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Copper

Supplement mineral general nutritionskin & hair
Aka: copper bisglycinate, cupric
Brands seen in Singapore: NOW Foods, Thorne, Solaray, Swanson Vitamins, Solgar
Third-party tested: Thorne certifies other products with NSF Certified for Sport, but nothing for copper.Certification is granted per product, so check the tub you actually own. Not being listed is not the same as failing.
Not medical advice. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change the timing of anything you take.
How to use
What it’s for
Iron use, energy, connective tissue · deficiency is uncommon
When to take
Timing not addressed by NIH ODS
Take with
Water · zinc ~60 mg a day for weeks lowers copper status
Pros & cons
Pros
  • Small daily need: RDA 900 mcg (0.9 mg) for adults
  • HSA allows red-blood-cell, hair and skin pigment claims
  • No clinically relevant drug interactions per NIH ODS
Cons
  • UL 10 mg a day from all sources — set on liver harm
  • Excess: belly pain, cramps, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting
  • SG pills run 2–2.5 mg — at or above the HSA 2 mg cap
Sources
  1. NIH ODS — Copper Fact Sheet for Health Professionals (Updated: October 18, 2022) — Introduction, Table 1 RDAs · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “cofactor for several enzymes (known as cuproenzymes) involved in energy production, iron metabolism, neuropeptide activation, connective tissue synthesis, and neurotransmitter synthesis … [RDA] 19+ years: Male 900 mcg, Female 900 mcg, Pregnancy 1,000 mcg, Lactation 1,300 mcg”
  2. NIH ODS — Copper Fact Sheet for Health Professionals (Updated: October 18, 2022) — Dietary Supplements, Copper Deficiency · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “These supplements contain many different forms of copper, including cupric oxide, cupric sulfate, copper amino acid chelates, and copper gluconate … Copper deficiency is uncommon in humans”
  3. NIH ODS — Copper Fact Sheet for Health Professionals (Updated: October 18, 2022) — Table 3 ULs, Health Risks from Excessive Copper · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “[UL] 19+ years: 10,000 mcg … Chronic exposure to high levels of copper can result in liver damage and gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., abdominal pain, cramps, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting)”
  4. NIH ODS — Copper Fact Sheet for Health Professionals (Updated: October 18, 2022) — Groups at Risk (Wilson's disease, celiac disease) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “People with Wilson's disease, a rare, autosomal recessive disease, have a high risk of copper toxicity … In a study of 200 adults and children with celiac disease … 15% had copper deficiency”
  5. NIH ODS — Copper Fact Sheet for Health Professionals (Updated: October 18, 2022) — Interactions with Medications, zinc interaction · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Copper is not known to have any clinically relevant interactions with medications … excessive use of zinc supplements can lead to copper deficiency … even moderately high zinc intakes of approximately 60 mg/day for up to 10 weeks”
  6. FDA — Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels, Reference Guide: Daily Values for Nutrients (content current as of 03/05/2024) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “DVs are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume or not to exceed each day … Copper 0.9mg”
  7. HSA — Health Supplements Guidelines GL-CHPB-3-001 Rev. 020 (January 2026), clause 4.8 + Table 5 Minerals Limits · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “4.8 HS for use by the general adult population should not contain vitamins and minerals exceeding the stipulated limits stated in Tables 4 and 5 … Table 5: Minerals Limits … Copper 2 mg”
  8. HSA — Health Supplements Guidelines GL-CHPB-3-001 Rev. 020 (January 2026), List of Health Claims rows 3, 27, 30, 41 · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Help form red blood cells • Copper, iron … Contribute to normal hair pigmentation • Copper … Contribute to normal skin pigmentation • Copper … Help in connective tissue formation • Copper, manganese, zinc”
  9. HSA — Guidelines on Prohibited and Restricted Ingredients in Health Supplements and Traditional Medicines, GL-CHPB-1-012 Rev. 001 (October 2025), Annex A row 33 · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “33. Copper — Restricted use in HS and TM — Maximum Daily Dose: When for oral use by general adult population, the maximum recommended daily dose should not provide more than 2mg”
  10. iHerb Singapore — Copper category page (Minerals), default 'Featured' order, 31 results · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “NOW Foods, Copper Glycinate … Thorne, Copper Bisglycinate … (2 mg per Capsule) … Solaray, Zinc Copper with Kelp & Pumpkin Seed … Swanson Vitamins, Albion® Copper, 2 mg … Solgar, Chelated Copper … (2.5 mg per Tablet)”
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Updated 2026-08-30. Every line above traces to a numbered source. Kozen-X is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. It lists what published sources have written down — nothing more. A pair not listed is unrecorded, not cleared. Before you start, stop or re-time anything, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.