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Cu5.5
Copper Research
Too few graded studies
74 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Too few graded studies
Copper doesn't have enough studies with structured effect-size data yet to pool a verdict. Browse the studies below for individual findings.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 1983–2026 with a typical study size of 8,242 participants.
Based on 74 studies · 22 meta-analyses · 30 RCTs · 475,165 total participants
Confidence
High confidence
By outcome
Therapeutic & clinical
Too few graded studies19 studies
Glucose & metabolic
Too few graded studies9 studies
Cognitive function
Too few graded studies5 studies
Bone healthSupports bone mineral density and skeletal strength · 8-12 weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational4 studies
Neuroprotection & brain aging
Mostly mechanism / observational4 studies
Skin health
Too few graded studies3 studies
Heart & blood pressure
Too few graded studies2 studies
Cholesterol & lipids
Too few graded studies2 studies
Safety profile
Too few graded studies1 study
By the numbers
Pulled from 32 studies with measurable effects
People studied
475k
typical study: 8242 people
Strongest designs
52
22 pooled, 30 randomised
Populations Studied
General population5
Patients with immune-mediated skin diseases1
Patients with celiac disease1
Patients with vitiligo1
Active research area
39 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2026
198320042026
1Serum trace element levelsMeta-Analysisn=7,014 · very large study2025
In plain English: Serum trace element levels showed more significant changes in patients with IMSDs than in healthy controls.
Shao X et al. · Nutrition reviews (2025)
Meta-analysis of 113 observational studies in 7,014 patients with immune-mediated skin diseases, comparing blood zinc, copper, iron, selenium and calcium with healthy controls.
Serum copper was higher than in controls in psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and alopecia areata, while zinc was lower in vitiligo, psoriasis and alopecia areata.
The design measures association with disease, not the effect of taking copper.
In plain English: 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)
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).
4Serum iron levelsMeta-AnalysisCited 4×n=8,542 · very large study2024
In plain English: 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)
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 20×n=63,283 · very large study2022
Gu T et al. · Clinical rheumatology (2022)
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.
7Effects of copper supplementation on blood lipid levelsMeta-AnalysisCited 8×n=176 · medium study2021
In plain English: Cu supplementation has not affected blood lipids in the result of meta-analysis.
Wang S et al. · Biological Trace Element Research (2021)
Data from 5 trials representing 176 participants were examined.
Pooled mean net change in total cholesterol (SMD [95% CI] = - 0.05 [- 0.52, 0.43]), LDL-C (SMD = 0.22 [- 0.46, 0.89]), and HDL-C (SMD = 0.18 [- 0.14, 0.49]) had no significant difference when compared with control.
Cu supplementation has not affected blood lipids in the result of meta-analysis.
8Serum micronutrient levels in vitiligoMeta-AnalysisCited 5×n=13,991 · very large study2024
In plain English: This meta-analysis indicates a significant decline in serum zinc levels (Z = 4.97; P < 0.0001; SMD = -0.86; 95% CI -1.19 to -0.52) in the vitiligo group, with high statistical heterogeneity (I2 = 95%).
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.
9Bone mineral densityMeta-Analysisn=14,396 · very large study2025
In plain English: Studies evaluating habitual dietary copper intake and bone mineral density have garnered significant interest due to copper's indispensable role in collagen cross-linking and osteogenesis, but have yielded heterogeneous results.
Gutiérrez-Guerra MA et al. · Calcified tissue international (2025)
Meta-analysis of observational studies on habitual dietary copper intake and bone mineral density measured by DXA.
Higher copper intake was associated with slightly higher lumbar spine density (MD 0.02 g/cm², 95% CI 0.00 to 0.04, 3 studies, 9,059 people).
The hip result was similar in size but not significant (MD 0.02 g/cm², p = 0.07, 4 studies, 14,345 people).
10Trace elements in Alzheimer dementiaMeta-AnalysisCited 41×2023
In plain English: 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)
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.
11Sleep disorders prevalenceMeta-AnalysisCited 23×n=501 · large study2020
In plain English: 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)
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.
12Clinical outcomes in rheumatoid arthritisMeta-AnalysisCited 24×2023
In plain English: 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.
13Circulating copper levels in liver cancerMeta-AnalysisCited 2×2023
Chen W et al. · Biological trace element research (2023)
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.
14Micronutrient levels in diabetic foot ulcerMeta-AnalysisCited 21×2023
In plain English: 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)
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)].
15Cardiovascular disease riskMeta-AnalysisCited 448×n=348,259 · very large study2018
In plain English: 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.
17Association between serum copper/zinc ratio and lung cancer riskMeta-AnalysisCited 48×n=8,314 · very large study2022
In plain English: 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)
Meta-analysis of 39 observational studies with 3,598 lung cancer patients, 1,402 people with benign lung disease and 3,314 healthy controls.
The serum copper to zinc ratio was higher in lung cancer than in healthy controls (SMD 1.62, 95% CI 1.31 to 1.93) and than in benign lung disease (SMD 0.60), and higher in advanced than early stage.
The design shows an association, not an effect of copper intake or supplements.
19Copper levels in malaria patientsMeta-AnalysisCited 3×n=16 · very small study2023
In plain English: 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)
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%).
20Zinc and copper homeostasis dysregulation in head and neck cancerMeta-AnalysisCited 46×2016
In plain English: To provide stronger evidence, dysregulation of levels is analysed by a meta-analytical approach.
Ressnerova A et al. · Current medicinal chemistry (2016)
Imbalance in this homeostasis is observed as an elevation or decrease of copper and zinc ions in serum or tissue levels in patients with cancer.
In head and neck cancer these altered levels stand out from those of other malignancies which makes them an object of interest and therefore zinc and copper ions might be a good target for further research of head and neck cancer development and progression.
This review aims to summarize the physiological roles of copper and zinc, its binding and transport mechanisms, and based on those, its role in head and neck cancer.