CAM PoliticsCopperHeavy Metals

Worried about copper in your supplements?

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has ruled that within limits, copper oxide can be safely used in food supplements.

Overall exposure to copper from all food sources ranges from 3.7 to 6.7 mg/day. For children the mean copper exposure was 4.1 to 4.9 mg/day assuming children take the adult dose of the supplement.

The bottom line?
Several companies and professional associations applied for copper oxide to be used in food supplements at levels of 2 mg copper/day for adults, which is equivalent to 2.5 mg of copper(II) oxide.

AdvancedFamilyHealth.com has an extensive (but not referenced) review of copper.

6/11/09 18:49 JR

Hi, I’m JR

John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.