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Is copper safe while breastfeeding?

Written by the Full Measure editorial team, which sells supplements. Approved for publication by the Full Measure owners. Updated .

Drafted with AI assistance from the sources listed below. How we write these

Quick answer

NIH lists 1,300 mcg of copper a day while breastfeeding and an upper limit of 10,000 mcg for adults from all sources. LactMed considers the copper IUD acceptable during breastfeeding and found it did not change milk copper. Ask your doctor before using copper supplements or copper peptides while nursing.1,2,3

Key facts

  • NIH lists 1,300 mcg of copper a day while breastfeeding, up from 900 mcg for other adults.1
  • The upper limit is 10,000 mcg a day for breastfeeding adults and 8,000 mcg for teens, counting food, drinks and supplements.2
  • LactMed says the copper IUD is acceptable to use during breastfeeding and did not change milk copper in studies.3
  • LiverTox says the copper in typical supplements has not been linked to liver injury, while an overdose can injure the liver.4
  • NIH says most people get enough copper from the foods they eat.1

What amounts does NIH list for breastfeeding?

The recommended amount is 1,000 mcg a day in pregnancy and 1,300 mcg a day while breastfeeding.1

NIH says most people get enough copper from food, and names shellfish, liver, nuts, seeds, chocolate, whole grains, mushrooms and avocados among the sources. It reports that average intakes in the United States are 1,100 mcg a day for women from food, and 1,400 to 1,700 mcg when supplements are counted for adults overall.1,2

The sources checked include no study of copper supplements in nursing women and no LactMed entry for copper as a supplement. That is a gap in the evidence, not a finding either way, so ask your doctor before adding one.

What is the upper limit while nursing?

The upper limit for copper is 10,000 mcg (10 mg) a day for adults, including during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and 8,000 mcg for teens 14 to 18, counting food, drinks and supplements. It is lower for children (1,000 mcg at ages 1 to 3, 3,000 mcg at 4 to 8 and 5,000 mcg at 9 to 13) and not set for infants. The limits do not apply to copper given under medical supervision.1,2

Getting too much copper on a regular basis can cause abdominal pain, cramps, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.1,2

LiverTox adds that the amounts of copper in typical supplements have not been linked with liver enzyme rises or liver injury, while an overdose can cause acute liver injury and long-term excess can lead to copper overload.4

Is a copper IUD different from copper in the diet?

Yes. A copper IUD is a contraceptive device placed in the uterus, and LactMed reviews it as a method rather than as a nutrient. It says the device is acceptable to use during breastfeeding, has been studied extensively in nursing women, and does not change the copper concentration in breastmilk.3

LactMed adds that insertion is best either in the first 48 hours after delivery or after 4 weeks, that breastfeeding may raise the chance of uterine perforation at insertion although the absolute risk is low, and that it is considered the most effective emergency contraceptive when inserted within 5 days. Ask your doctor or midwife about timing and choice.3

What about copper peptides and copper water?

The sources checked do not address copper peptides such as GHK-Cu, or copper-containing skin products, during breastfeeding. That is not a finding either way, so ask your pharmacist.

NIH says copper toxicity has occurred where stagnant water leached copper from pipes and fixtures. The Environmental Protection Agency's recommended upper limit for copper in public water systems is 1.3 mg per liter, and in a trial of 60 healthy women, 3 and 5 mg per liter in drinking water brought more nausea, stomach upset or vomiting.2,5

Who should ask a doctor about copper while breastfeeding?

  • Anyone with Wilson's disease, a rare inherited condition in which copper builds up in the body.1
  • Anyone with liver disease.2
  • Anyone taking 50 mg of zinc a day or more, which can lower copper absorption.2
  • Anyone planning a copper-containing supplement on top of a multivitamin.2

Ask your doctor, and bring the label of every product you take.

Questions people ask

Is copper IUD safe while breastfeeding?

LactMed says the copper IUD is acceptable during breastfeeding and does not change the copper concentration in milk. Insertion is best within 48 hours of delivery or after 4 weeks, so ask your doctor or midwife.3

Is copper supplement safe while breastfeeding?

NIH lists 1,300 mcg a day while nursing and an upper limit of 10,000 mcg for adults. The sources checked have no study of copper supplements in nursing women, so ask your doctor.1,2

Is GHK-Cu safe while breastfeeding?

The sources checked do not address GHK-Cu or other copper peptides. That is not a finding either way, so ask your pharmacist or doctor.2

Is copper peptide safe during breastfeeding?

The sources checked do not address copper peptides during breastfeeding. NIH's copper sheets cover copper as a nutrient, so ask your pharmacist or doctor before using a copper peptide product.2

Can you take copper while breastfeeding?

NIH lists 1,300 mcg a day as the need while nursing, and most people get enough from food. Ask your doctor before taking a supplement, especially if you take zinc or have liver disease.1,2

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Sources

  1. Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. Copper: Fact Sheet for Consumers. Updated October 18, 2022. Opened 2026-10-07.
  2. National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Copper: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Updated October 18, 2022. Opened 2026-10-07.
  3. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed). Intrauterine Copper Contraceptive. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Record updated December 15, 2025. Opened 2026-10-11.
  4. Copper. In: LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; 2012-. Updated October 30, 2017. Opened 2026-10-07.
  5. Pizarro F, Olivares M, Uauy R, Contreras P, Rebelo A, Gidi V. Acute gastrointestinal effects of graded levels of copper in drinking water. Environ Health Perspect. 1999;107(2):117-121. Opened 2026-10-07.

This page is information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.