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Cu9.0
Copper Research
Likely helpsModerate safety
40 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Likely helps
Copper appears to help in 9 of 10 studies with measurable effects — the evidence leans clearly favourable.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 2016–2026 with a typical study size of 892 participants.
Based on 40 studies · 25 meta-analyses · 1 RCT · 282,559 total participants
Confidence
High
What the studies found
9helped1unclear· 30 more without graded effect data
By outcome
Therapeutic & clinical
Probably helps13 studies
Glucose & metabolic
Likely helps10 studies
Bone healthSupports bone mineral density and skeletal strength · 8-12 weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational5 studies
Skin health
Mostly mechanism / observational3 studies
Heart & blood pressure
Too few graded studies2 studies
Cognitive function
Too few graded studies2 studies
Neuroprotection & brain aging
Too few graded studies2 studies
Cholesterol & lipids
Too few graded studies1 study
Immune supportProper immune cell function · 4-8 weeks
Too few graded studies1 study
By the numbers
Pulled from 33 studies with measurable effects
Likely real effects
67%
across studies
People studied
283k
typical study: 892 people
Strongest designs
26
25 pooled, 1 randomised
Showed benefit
90%
9/10 studies
Populations Studied
General population5
Patients with celiac disease1
Patients with immune-mediated skin diseases1
Patients with vitiligo1
Active research area
36 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2026
201620212026
1Hemoglobin levelsMeta-AnalysisCited 10×n=4,140 · very large study2025
This study highlighted significantly higher micronutrient deficiencies in patients diagnosed with CeD than in controls, underscoring the importance of systematic nutritional assessment and multidisciplinary management to address micronutrient deficiencies and minimize negative health impact(s).
Lamjadli S et al. · International journal of immunopathology and pharmacology (2025)
Large benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
Meta-analysis revealed a significant difference in hemoglobin levels between patients with CeD and controls (standardized mean difference (SMD) -0.59 (95% confidence interval (CI) -0.8459 to -0.3382); P = 0.0003).
No significant differences were found in MCV, or copper or vitamin B12 levels between patients with CeD and controls.
This study highlighted significantly higher micronutrient deficiencies in patients diagnosed with CeD than in controls, underscoring the importance of systematic nutritional assessment and multidisciplinary management to address micronutrient deficiencies and minimize negative health impact(s).
3Serum iron levelsMeta-AnalysisCited 3×n=8,542 · very large study2024
Patients with vitiligo should reduce smoking and alcohol consumption and take appropriate vitamin E, B12, copper, and zinc supplements.
Liang X et al. · Frontiers in immunology (2024)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Vitamin C [mean difference (MD), -0.342; 95% confidence interval (CI), -1.090-0.407; p >0.05), folic acid (MD, -1.463; 95% CI, -7.133-4.208; p >0.05), and selenium (MD, 0.350; 95% CI, -0.687-1.387; p >0.05) levels did not differ between the groups.
The serum iron level of the vitiligo group was significantly higher than that of the control group (MD, 1.181; 95% CI, 0.390-1.972; p <0.005).
Patients with vitiligo should reduce smoking and alcohol consumption and take appropriate vitamin E, B12, copper, and zinc supplements.
5Hyperuricemia riskMeta-AnalysisCited 18×n=63,283 · very large study2022
Gu T et al. · Clinical rheumatology (2022)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Data were pooled by random-effects models and expressed as pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Exposure to molybdenum (pooled OR = 0.804, 0.724, 0.975, 3, 0%) was linked to a decreased risk of HUA, however.
Molybdenum exposure was associated with a decreased prevalence of HUA; however, aluminum, cobalt, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, mercury, selenium, thallium and zinc are not associated with HUA risk.
8Sleep disorders prevalenceMeta-AnalysisCited 22×n=501 · large study2020
Our study indicates that sleep disorders are frequent in patients with WD.
Xu J et al. · Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (2020)
Huge benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
We found that 54.1% of patients with WD experience sleep disorders and up to 7.65-fold higher odds compared to control patients.
Furthermore, objective sleep disruptions based on polysomnographic studies included prolonged sleep onset latency and REM sleep onset latency, reduced total sleep time and sleep efficiency, higher percentage of stage N1 sleep and lower percentage of stage N2 sleep were observed in patients with WD.
Our study indicates that sleep disorders are frequent in patients with WD.
This meta-analysis examined the effects of Copper.
Gutiérrez-Guerra MA et al. · Calcified tissue international (2025)
Data were pooled via a generic inverse-variance random-effects model, with heterogeneity assessed by the Q test and I2 statistic.
Higher dietary copper intake is modestly associated with increased lumbar spine BMD, while evidence for hip BMD remains inconclusive, underscoring copper's potential role in osteoporosis prevention.
10Serum micronutrient levels in vitiligoMeta-AnalysisCited 3×n=41 · small study2024
This meta-analysis examined the effects of Copper.
Anam K et al. · Scientific reports (2024)
Publication bias was not found for the studies analysed.
This study analyses the association of serum micronutrient levels and vitiligo among patients and controls from published research along with sub-group analysis specific to Asian populations using a meta-analysis.
Low serum levels of Zinc and copper and high selenium levels are associated with Vitiligo.
11Trace elements in Alzheimer dementiaMeta-AnalysisCited 39×n=73 · small study2023
In a further meta-analysis, standardized mean differences (SMDs) of 13 elements were calculated to evaluate their altered in AD patients, including copper, iron, zinc, selenium, manganese, lead, al...
Li K et al. · Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987) (2023)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
In a further meta-analysis, standardized mean differences (SMDs) of 13 elements were calculated to evaluate their altered in AD patients, including copper, iron, zinc, selenium, manganese, lead, aluminum, cadmium, chromium, arsenic, mercury, cobalt, and manganese.
We identified four trace elements-copper (serum), iron (plasma), zinc (hair), and selenium (plasma)-altered in AD patients, with SMDs of 0.37 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.10, 0.65), -0.68 (95% CI: -1.34, -0.02), -0.35 (95% CI: -0.62, -0.08), and -0.61 (95% CI: -0.97, -0.25), respectively.
Finally, we formed a database of various trace element levels in AD patients and healthy controls.
12Cardiovascular disease riskMeta-AnalysisCited 420×n=348 · medium study2018
Exposure to arsenic, lead, cadmium, and copper is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease.
Chowdhury R et al. · BMJ (Clinical research ed.) (2018)
Exposure to arsenic, lead, cadmium, and copper is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease.
Mercury is not associated with cardiovascular risk.
These findings reinforce the importance of environmental toxic metals in cardiovascular risk, beyond the roles of conventional behavioural risk factors.
14Serum trace elements and osteoarthritis occurrenceMeta-AnalysisCited 6×2024
The study suggests that there is an association between the occurrence of OA and variations in serum levels of copper, manganese, cadmium, and selenium.
Shi H et al. · Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS) (2024)
The study suggests that there is an association between the occurrence of OA and variations in serum levels of copper, manganese, cadmium, and selenium.
Elevated serum copper may play a pivotal role.
Further research is needed to explore the therapeutic potential of TE level modulation in OA management.
15Micronutrient levels in diabetic foot ulcerMeta-AnalysisCited 16×2023
This review provides evidence that micronutrient levels significantly differ in DFU patients, suggesting an association between micronutrient status and risk of DFU.
Kurian SJ et al. · Frontiers in endocrinology (2023)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
DFU, compared to healthy controls (HC) had significantly lower vitamin D (MD: -10.82 14 ng/ml, 95% CI: -20.47, -1.16), magnesium (MD: -0.45 mg/dL, 95% CI: -0.78, -0.12) and selenium (MD: -0.33 µmol/L, 95% CI: -0.34, -0.32) levels.
DFU, compared to DM patients without DFU, had significantly lower vitamin D (MD: -5.41 ng/ml, 95% CI: -8.06, -2.76), and magnesium (MD: -0.20 mg/dL, 95% CI: -0.25, -0.15) levels.
The overall analysis showed lower levels of vitamin D [15.55ng/ml (95% CI:13.44, 17.65)], vitamin C [4.99µmol/L (95% CI:3.16, 6.83)], magnesium [1.53mg/dL (95% CI:1.28, 1.78)] and selenium [0.54µmol/L (95% CI:0.45, 0.64)].
16Clinical outcomes in rheumatoid arthritisMeta-AnalysisCited 21×2023
Some non-pharmacological therapies may modestly improve some clinical outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Turk MA et al. · Autoimmunity reviews (2023)
Some non-pharmacological therapies may modestly improve some clinical outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Many identified studies lacked full reporting.
Further clinical trials that are well-designed, adequately powered, and sufficiently report ACR improvement criteria or EULAR response criteria outcomes are needed to confirm the efficacy of these therapies.
17Circulating copper levels in liver cancerMeta-AnalysisCited 2×2023
Chen W et al. · Biological trace element research (2023)
Huge benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
Standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) in circulating copper level between liver cancer patients and controls were pooled.
In meta-analysis of eight studies, circulating copper was found to be higher in liver cancer patients (SMD: 1.65; 95% CI: 0.65 to 2.65) with high heterogeneity (I2 = 96.40%, P = 0.001).
Moreover, non-significant finding was confirmed by using maximum-likelihood method.
18Association between serum copper/zinc ratio and lung cancer riskMeta-AnalysisCited 42×2022
The results showed that elevated serum copper/zinc ratio might be associated with increased risk of lung cancer.
Zhang L et al. · Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS) (2022)
Huge benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
The pooled results showed that the lung cancer patients had significantly higher serum copper/zinc ratio than healthy controls [SMD (95 % CI): 1.62 (1.31, 1.93)] and patients with benign lung diseases [SMD (95 % CI): 0.60 (0.36, 0.84)].
The results showed that elevated serum copper/zinc ratio might be associated with increased risk of lung cancer.
20Copper levels in malaria patientsMeta-AnalysisCited 1×n=16 · very small study2023
These findings highlight the need for further research to better understand the role of copper in malaria pathogenesis by considering geographical factors and the blood sample type used for copper level measurement.
Kotepui KU et al. · Nutrients (2023)
No clear effect
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Could be chance
To calculate the standardized mean difference (Hedge's g) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), a random-effects model was used.
Most studies (52.9%) reported that individuals with malaria had significantly higher copper levels than uninfected controls.
The meta-analysis, based on 16 studies, showed no significant difference in copper levels between patients with malaria and uninfected controls overall (p = 0.39; Hedges' g, 0.38; 95% CI, -0.48 to 1.25; I2, 98.73%).