What Can Deplete Copper in Your Body? Unpacking the Causes

October 21, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the National Institutes of Health, copper deficiency is rare in the general population but is becoming more common in specific groups due to changing dietary and medical practices. So, what can deplete copper in your body, leading to health issues ranging from anemia to neurological problems? This article breaks down the primary causes and how they affect your mineral balance.

Quick Summary

Several factors, including excessive zinc supplementation, malabsorption disorders from certain surgeries or diseases, and high iron intake, can reduce copper levels. Medications and genetic conditions also play a role in this deficiency.

Key Points

Excess Zinc Intake: High-dose zinc supplementation can competitively inhibit copper absorption by inducing a protein that binds copper in the intestine, leading to deficiency.
Gastrointestinal Surgery: Procedures like gastric bypass can lead to malabsorption of copper by altering the digestive tract, requiring lifelong monitoring and supplementation.
Malabsorption Syndromes: Chronic diseases such as Crohn's and celiac disease, which damage the intestinal lining, can impair copper absorption from food.
High Iron Intake: Excessive iron can interfere with the body's use of copper, potentially contributing to deficiency, especially in individuals with an already low copper status.
Certain Medications: Copper-chelating drugs used to treat conditions like Wilson's disease, as well as some cancer therapies, actively deplete copper from the body.
Poor Diet or Specific Diets: Restrictive diets or those very high in phytates can reduce the overall intake or bioavailability of copper, though overt deficiency is rare.
Genetic Disorders: Rare inherited conditions, most notably Menkes disease, result in a genetic defect that impairs copper absorption and transport from birth.

The Surprising Antagonism of Zinc and Copper

One of the most common and often overlooked ways copper levels can be depleted is through excessive zinc intake. Zinc and copper are considered antagonists, meaning they compete for absorption in the small intestine. High doses of zinc can trigger the production of a protein called metallothionein, which binds more tightly to copper than zinc, trapping it within intestinal cells. This effectively blocks copper from being absorbed and utilized by the rest of the body, leading to a functional deficiency.

Historically, this has been observed in patients taking high-dose zinc supplements, for instance, to combat the common cold or for other therapeutic purposes. The issue can be compounded by zinc-containing products like denture creams, which some individuals use excessively over long periods, leading to symptomatic copper deficiency. It is a delicate balance, and maintaining a healthy zinc-to-copper ratio is crucial for proper mineral metabolism.

Medical Procedures and Gastrointestinal Malabsorption

Certain medical procedures and chronic diseases can severely disrupt the body's ability to absorb copper, regardless of dietary intake. The majority of copper absorption occurs in the stomach and small intestine, so any alteration to this region of the digestive tract poses a significant risk.

Bariatric Surgery

For those who undergo bariatric procedures like Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, the risk of copper malabsorption is particularly high. These surgeries reduce the size of the stomach and reroute the small intestine, bypassing the primary sites of mineral absorption. Patients require careful and often lifelong monitoring and supplementation to prevent deficiencies.

Malabsorption Syndromes

Chronic gastrointestinal disorders can also interfere with nutrient uptake. Diseases that damage the intestinal lining, such as celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease), and chronic diarrhea, can all lead to malabsorption of copper. Short bowel syndrome, often resulting from surgical resections, is another significant cause.

The Iron-Copper Connection

Excessive iron intake can also contribute to copper depletion, highlighting another important mineral interaction.

Interference with absorption: High dietary iron can interfere with copper transport in the gut. Some studies in animals have shown that high iron intake increases the dietary copper requirement.
Impact on iron metabolism: Paradoxically, copper deficiency can lead to iron-deficiency-like anemia. This is because copper is essential for the function of ceruloplasmin and hephaestin, enzymes that help release iron from storage and enable its transport for red blood cell formation. A copper shortage impairs this process, causing iron to accumulate in storage organs like the liver, even while the body's iron supply for red blood cells is low.

Table of Mineral Interactions Affecting Copper


Mineral / Factor	How It Depletes Copper	Risk Factor for Deficiency	Management Strategy
Excess Zinc	Induces metallothionein, which traps copper in intestinal cells, preventing absorption.	High-dose supplementation, excessive use of zinc-rich products (denture creams).	Monitor supplement dosage; follow recommended daily intakes; consult a doctor.
High Iron	Competes with copper for absorption in the gut, increasing the body's copper requirements.	Excessive iron supplementation, iron-fortified foods, particularly for those with marginal copper status.	Balance iron and copper intake; take iron supplements under medical supervision.
High Phytate (in plants)	Phytates, found in some high-fiber plant foods, can bind to minerals like copper and reduce their bioavailability.	Vegan or vegetarian diets with very high intake of phytate-rich foods (grains, legumes).	Balance plant sources; soak, sprout, or ferment grains to reduce phytates.

Medications, Genetics, and Dietary Patterns

Beyond mineral interactions, other factors can directly or indirectly lead to low copper levels.

Medications

Some drugs are specifically designed to reduce copper levels. Chelation therapy uses medications like D-penicillamine and trientine to treat conditions of copper overload, such as Wilson's disease, by binding to copper and promoting its excretion. While effective for their intended purpose, these agents will deplete copper and require careful medical monitoring. Other medications, such as some zinc-based treatments and certain cancer therapies, can also affect copper metabolism.

Genetic Disorders

Genetic conditions can impair the body's ability to absorb or distribute copper. Menkes disease is a rare, X-linked recessive disorder where a genetic mutation causes severely impaired intestinal copper transport. This leads to copper deficiency from birth, causing progressive neurodegeneration and developmental issues.

Low Dietary Intake and Vegetarian Diets

While true dietary copper deficiency is uncommon in developed countries, poor dietary habits can contribute. Restrictive diets or an over-reliance on processed foods lacking in copper-rich options like nuts, seeds, and organ meats can lead to insufficient intake. While well-planned vegetarian or vegan diets are not inherently low in copper, high levels of phytates and fiber in some plant foods can reduce copper bioavailability.

Conclusion: Proactive Monitoring and Balance are Key

Several complex factors contribute to copper depletion in the body, ranging from excessive intake of other minerals like zinc and iron to impaired absorption caused by medical conditions or surgeries. The consequences, including hematological issues like anemia and serious neurological damage, highlight the importance of maintaining proper mineral balance. Patients with malabsorptive diseases, a history of bariatric surgery, or those undergoing specific drug treatments are at the highest risk and should be regularly monitored for copper levels. For the general population, a balanced diet rich in copper sources while managing overall mineral intake is the best preventive strategy.

For more information on the interaction between minerals and your health, consider visiting the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, high-dose zinc supplementation is a well-documented cause of acquired copper deficiency. Zinc and copper compete for absorption in the small intestine, and excessive zinc can block the absorption of copper.

Yes, bariatric surgeries, such as gastric bypass, are a major risk factor for copper deficiency due to the surgical alteration of the digestive tract, which impairs the absorption process.

Malabsorption diseases like celiac disease or Crohn's disease cause inflammation and damage to the intestinal lining, which interferes with the normal absorption of nutrients, including copper.

Yes, excess dietary iron can compete with copper for absorption, potentially leading to copper depletion. A high iron intake can increase the body's requirement for copper.

Medications used for copper chelation therapy, such as D-penicillamine and trientine, are designed to lower copper levels in the body to treat conditions like Wilson's disease.

While vegan and vegetarian diets can be high in copper-rich foods, they can also contain high levels of phytates and fiber, which may reduce the bioavailability of copper. However, adequate copper intake is generally achievable with a well-planned plant-based diet.

The early signs can be non-specific and are often missed, but they can include neurological symptoms like tingling or numbness, fatigue, frequent sickness due to a weakened immune system, and some types of anemia.