Copper Bisglycinate vs Copper Gluconate
How copper bisglycinate and copper gluconate differ in elemental content, absorption, tolerance, and cost.
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Side by Side
| Copper Bisglycinate | Copper Gluconate | |
|---|---|---|
| Elemental content | 30% elemental copper | 14% elemental copper |
| Absorption | High | High |
| How it is absorbed | Copper bound to glycine. Absorbed well, with few human comparisons against simple salts. | Soluble salt absorbed through the CTR1 transporter in the small intestine; the fraction absorbed falls as intake rises. |
| Typical dose | 1-2 mg elemental copper daily | 1-2 mg elemental copper daily |
| Common uses | pairing with long-term zinc | pairing with long-term zinc |
| Side effects | Nausea on an empty stomach. | Nausea on an empty stomach. |
| Cost | Moderate | Low |
| Also called | copper glycinate, chelated copper | None |
| Labels in index | 101 | 20 |
When to Choose Copper Bisglycinate
Choose copper bisglycinate when it comes paired in a zinc product you already take. Often found in chelated mineral formulas.
Copper Bisglycinate
Common in zinc and multimineral combinations. No proven advantage over gluconate.
What to look for: Elemental copper stated, ideally inside the zinc product you already take.
Find on iHerb Affiliate linkWhen to Choose Copper Gluconate
Choose copper gluconate when you need a small, inexpensive copper dose alongside zinc. The most common copper form in standalone supplements.
Copper Gluconate
Inexpensive and well absorbed. The simplest way to add 1-2 mg alongside zinc.
What to look for: Copper (as gluconate) 1-2 mg per tablet, taken with food.
Find on iHerb Affiliate linkProducts on Titrate
In Titrate's index of NIH label data, 101 labels named as copper products list copper bisglycinate and 20 list copper gluconate.
Copper does not have its own search category yet. Each product above links to its full label in the NIH database.
Related
References
NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Copper: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.
Baker DH. Cupric oxide should not be used as a copper supplement for either animals or humans. J Nutr. 1999;129(12):2278-2279.
Willis MS, Monaghan SA, Miller ML, et al. Zinc-induced copper deficiency: a report of three cases initially recognized on bone marrow examination. Am J Clin Pathol. 2005;123(1):125-131.
Kumar N. Copper deficiency myelopathy (human swayback). Mayo Clin Proc. 2006;81(10):1371-1384.
Hedera P, Peltier A, Fink JK, Wilcock S, London Z, Brewer GJ. Myelopolyneuropathy and pancytopenia due to copper deficiency and high zinc levels of unknown origin II. The denture cream is a primary source of excessive zinc. Neurotoxicology. 2009;30(6):996-999.
Schilsky ML, Roberts EA, Bronstein JM, et al. A multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and management of Wilson disease: executive summary of the 2022 Practice Guidance on Wilson disease from the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. Hepatology. 2023;77(4):1428-1455.