Copper Bisglycinate vs Cupric Oxide
How copper bisglycinate and cupric oxide differ in elemental content, absorption, tolerance, and cost.
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Side by Side
| Copper Bisglycinate | Cupric Oxide | |
|---|---|---|
| Elemental content | 30% elemental copper | 79.9% elemental copper |
| Absorption | High | Low |
| How it is absorbed | Copper bound to glycine. Absorbed well, with few human comparisons against simple salts. | Nearly insoluble and poorly absorbed; animal data led to the recommendation that it not be used as a copper source. |
| Typical dose | 1-2 mg elemental copper daily | Avoid as a copper source |
| Common uses | pairing with long-term zinc | inexpensive multivitamins |
| Side effects | Nausea on an empty stomach. | None notable at label doses. |
| Cost | Moderate | Low |
| Also called | copper glycinate, chelated copper | copper oxide |
| Labels in index | 101 | 3 |
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 Cupric Oxide
There is no good reason to choose cupric oxide: choose any soluble form. Its high copper content by weight overstates what is absorbed.
Cupric Oxide
There is no good reason to choose cupric oxide: choose any soluble form.
What to look for: Cupric Oxide named on the Supplement Facts panel, with the amount per serving stated.
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 3 list cupric oxide.
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.