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Is copper safe for kids and teens?

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 upper limits for copper of 1,000 mcg a day at ages 1 to 3, 3,000 mcg at 4 to 8, 5,000 mcg at 9 to 13 and 8,000 mcg for teens, far below the adult 10,000 mcg. NIH says breast milk, formula and food should be an infant's only sources. Ask your doctor before giving a child copper.1,2

Key facts

  • NIH lists copper amounts of 340 mcg a day at ages 1 to 3, 440 mcg at 4 to 8, 700 mcg at 9 to 13 and 890 mcg for teens.1
  • Upper limits climb with age from 1,000 mcg at ages 1 to 3 to 10,000 mcg for adults, and none is set for infants.1,2
  • NIH says breast milk, formula and food should be the only sources of copper for infants.2
  • The EPA's recommended upper limit for copper in public water systems is 1.3 mg per liter, and copper toxicity has followed copper leaching from household pipes.2
  • NIH says copper deficiency is rare in the United States, and names celiac disease, Menkes disease and high-dose zinc as reasons some people fall short.1

What copper amounts does NIH list for children and teens?

Children need 340 mcg a day at ages 1 to 3, 440 mcg at 4 to 8 and 700 mcg at 9 to 13, and teens 14 to 18 need 890 mcg.1

NIH says most people in the United States get enough copper from food. Average intakes from food range from 800 to 1,000 mcg a day for children aged 2 to 19.1,2

What are the upper limits by age?

The limits count food, drinks and supplements together: 1,000 mcg a day at ages 1 to 3, 3,000 mcg at 4 to 8, 5,000 mcg at 9 to 13, 8,000 mcg at 14 to 18 and 10,000 mcg for adults. No limit is set for infants, because breast milk, formula and food should be their only sources. The limits are based on amounts linked with liver damage.1,2

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

Is copper in water or from copper pipes a concern for kids?

Copper toxicity has occurred when stagnant water in copper pipes and fixtures, or copper alloys in plumbing, leached copper into drinking water.2

The Environmental Protection Agency's recommended upper limit for copper in public water systems is 1.3 mg per liter. In a trial of 60 healthy adult women, drinking water with 3 or 5 mg of copper per liter brought more nausea, stomach upset or vomiting than water with less. The sources checked include no matching trial in children.2,3

What about copper IUDs, peptides and jewelry for teens?

The sources checked do not rule on copper IUDs for teens, copper peptides such as GHK-Cu, or copper jewelry for children. LactMed's IUD entry is about nursing mothers, not teens. That is not a finding either way, so ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Who should ask a doctor about copper for a child or teen?

  • Anyone whose child has Wilson's disease or Menkes disease, two rare genetic conditions that affect how the body handles copper.1
  • Anyone whose child has celiac disease, which NIH lists among reasons for low copper.1
  • Anyone whose child takes zinc supplements, since high zinc doses can block copper absorption.1
  • Anyone considering a copper-only supplement for a child.2

Ask your doctor, and check the Supplement Facts panel of every product, because multivitamins and mineral products can list copper.

Questions people ask

Is copper safe for kids?

NIH lists upper limits of 1,000 mcg a day at ages 1 to 3 and 3,000 mcg at 4 to 8, counting all sources. Ask your child's doctor before giving a copper supplement.1

Is copper water safe for kids?

The EPA's recommended upper limit for public water is 1.3 mg of copper per liter, and NIH reports toxicity from water in copper pipes. The sources checked include no children's trial, so ask your doctor.2

Is copper jewelry safe for kids?

The sources checked do not address copper jewelry. NIH's copper sheets cover copper as a nutrient, so ask your pharmacist or your child's doctor.2

Is a copper IUD safe for teens?

The sources checked do not rule on the copper IUD for teens. LactMed reviews it only for breastfeeding. Ask your doctor or another clinician.4

Are copper peptides safe for teens?

The sources checked do not address copper peptides such as GHK-Cu, for teens or anyone else. That is not a finding either way, so ask your pharmacist or doctor.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. 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.
  4. 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.

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