Copper

What it is · too little · too much · daily reference values by country

For reference only. This is not a diagnosis or a prescription. If you have concerns, talk to a doctor or pharmacist.

What it is

Copper is a trace mineral that is essential for many enzyme reactions and physiological functions in the body. (Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare · Korean Nutrition Society)
Copper is an essential nutrient and is a central component of many enzymes, including those involved in neurotransmitter synthesis, in energy metabolism and in collagen and elastin cross-linking. (European Food Safety Authority)

Getting too little

When copper is low, enzyme activity falls, and anemia, low neutrophil counts, slowed bone growth, neurological abnormalities, weakened immunity, and more can occur. (Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare · Korean Nutrition Society)
Copper deficiency may result in several symptoms, given the wide range of associated enzymes; however, most often symptoms include neurological deficits, lax skin, and muscular weakness. (European Food Safety Authority)

Getting too much

Too much copper can cause stomach and intestinal problems, nausea, and diarrhea through increased oxidative stress and liver damage, and in severe cases it can cause liver failure. (Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare · Korean Nutrition Society)

Daily reference values by country

Korea · US · EU — tap to open

These tables are daily reference values for healthy people. Numbers in the text above are a different kind of value, and you cannot diagnose yourself from them. How to read RDA, AI and UL

Korea — 2025 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (Ministry of Health and Welfare)

Group	EAR	RNI	AI	UL
0–5 months			240 μg
6–11 months			330 μg
1–2 years	220 μg	290 μg		Checking
3–5 years	270 μg	350 μg		Checking
Male · 6–8 years	360 μg	460 μg		Checking
Male · 9–11 years	470 μg	600 μg		Checking
Male · 12–14 years	600 μg	800 μg		Checking
Male · 15–18 years	700 μg	900 μg		Checking
Male · 19–29 years	650 μg	850 μg		Checking
Male · 30–49 years	650 μg	850 μg		Checking
Male · 50–64 years	650 μg	850 μg		Checking
Male · 65–74 years	600 μg	800 μg		Checking
Male · 75+ years	600 μg	800 μg		Checking
Female · 6–8 years	310 μg	410 μg		Checking
Female · 9–11 years	420 μg	550 μg		Checking
Female · 12–14 years	500 μg	650 μg		Checking
Female · 15–18 years	550 μg	750 μg		Checking
Female · 19–29 years	500 μg	650 μg		Checking
Female · 30–49 years	500 μg	650 μg		Checking
Female · 50–64 years	500 μg	650 μg		Checking
Female · 65–74 years	460 μg	600 μg		Checking
Female · 75+ years	460 μg	600 μg		Checking
Pregnancy	+100 μg	+130 μg		Checking
Lactation	+370 μg	+480 μg		Checking

US — NASEM (National Academies)

Group	EAR	RDA	AI	UL
1–3 years	260 μg	340 μg		1000 μg
4–8 years	340 μg	440 μg		3000 μg
Male · 9–13 years	540 μg	700 μg		5000 μg
Male · 14–18 years	685 μg	890 μg		8000 μg
Male · 19–30 years	700 μg	900 μg		10000 μg
Male · 31–50 years	700 μg	900 μg		10000 μg
Male · 51–70 years	700 μg	900 μg		10000 μg
Male · 71+ years	700 μg	900 μg		10000 μg
Female · 9–13 years	540 μg	700 μg		5000 μg
Female · 14–18 years	685 μg	890 μg		8000 μg
Female · 19–30 years	700 μg	900 μg		10000 μg
Female · 31–50 years	700 μg	900 μg		10000 μg
Female · 51–70 years	700 μg	900 μg		10000 μg
Female · 71+ years	700 μg	900 μg		10000 μg
Pregnancy · 14–18 years	785 μg	1000 μg		8000 μg
Pregnancy · 19–30 years	800 μg	1000 μg		10000 μg
Pregnancy · 31–50 years	800 μg	1000 μg		10000 μg
Lactation · 14–18 years	985 μg	1300 μg		8000 μg
Lactation · 19–30 years	1000 μg	1300 μg		10000 μg
Lactation · 31–50 years	1000 μg	1300 μg		10000 μg
0–6 months			200 μg	—
7–12 months			220 μg	—

UL — applies to: Unless otherwise specified, the UL represents total intake from food, water, and supplements.

EU — EFSA (European Food Safety Authority)

Group	AI	UL
7–11 months	400 μg
1–2 years	700 μg
3–3 years	1000 μg
4–6 years	1000 μg	Checking
7–9 years	1000 μg
Male · 10–10 years	1300 μg
Female · 10–10 years	1100 μg
Male · 11–17 years	1300 μg
Female · 11–17 years	1100 μg
Male · 18+ years	1600 μg
Female · 18+ years	1300 μg
Pregnancy · 18–60 years	1500 μg
Lactation · 18–60 years	1500 μg
18+ years		Checking
Pregnancy · 18+ years		—
Lactation · 18+ years		—
1–3 years		Checking
7–10 years		Checking
11–14 years		Checking
15–17 years		Checking

Sources

EFSA DRV Finder (Dietary Reference Values) · checked 2026-10-07
EFSA DRV Finder — nutrient descriptions · checked 2026-10-07
EFSA Overview on Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (v11, August 2025) · checked 2026-10-07
2025 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans, Vol. 3: Minerals (Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare · The Korean Nutrition Society; in Korean) · checked 2026-10-07
2025 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans — summary tables (Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare · The Korean Nutrition Society; in Korean) · checked 2026-10-07
NASEM Dietary Reference Intakes summary tables (Appendix J, 2019) · checked 2026-10-07

The sentences are plain-language summaries of official sources written by SuppleBoard. Each English sentence was checked against the source text by an AI reviewer before publishing. The agencies do not endorse this site. Published 2026-10-16.

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