Vitamin C & Copper Deficiency

Question:
Does taking vitamin C (1,000 mg) deplete copper in the body?

Reviewed and edited by Tod Cooperman, M.D.

Initial Posting: 4/23/2019    Last Update: 4/23/2019

Answer:
High-dose vitamin C can potentially lower copper levels, although the effect seems to be modest, as described in the Concerns and Cautions section of the Vitamin C Supplements Review.

A better-known and established cause of copper deficiency is supplementing with high doses of zinc, as zinc competes with copper for absorption. This is why copper is added, for example, to vision supplements that contain large amounts of zinc.

Learn more about vitamin C:

Do vitamin C supplements help prevent cataracts? >>

Can vitamin C from a supplement cause blood in the urine and painful urination? >>

Some vitamin C products claim to use fully reduced vitamin C. Is this important? >>

Is it possible to take too much vitamin C? >>

Is Ester-C the best form of vitamin C? >>

See other recent and popular questions >>

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