Can copper supplements fight COVID-19?

Based on Science

Copper supplements will not prevent or help your body fight an infection caused by the novel coronavirus.

Health and Medicine

Pandemics

Last update May 21, 2020

Copper is key to human health.

Copper plays an important role in human health. This mineral helps your body carry out many functions, including making energy, metabolizing iron, and creating connective tissue. It is also essential for other processes, such as forming blood vessels, regulating gene expression, and keeping your immune system healthy.

A little bit of copper goes a long way in the human body. The recommended dietary intake for most adults is 900 micrograms of copper per day. Most people in the U.S. get the copper they need from their diet alone. Foods rich in copper include shellfish, seeds and nuts, and whole-grain products.

Copper supplements cannot prevent or cure a COVID-19 infection.

Copper is important to a healthy immune system, but taking extra copper in the form of supplements won’t keep you from getting an infection if you are exposed to the novel coronavirus. And it won’t help you fight the disease if you do get infected.

There is no evidence that copper kills germs inside your body.
There is no evidence that copper or other dietary supplements can “boost” or “supercharge” your immune system to protect you from infections.
There are many false claims about COVID-19 cures. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating fraudulent products.

Getting vaccinated and staying up-to-date with vaccinations, minimizing time in poorly ventilated indoor spaces, and avoiding crowded locations are the best ways to avoid getting COVID-19. If you choose to take copper supplements, follow the directions on the product label. Too much copper can make you sick, causing abdominal pain, cramps, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. Excess copper over a long period of time can cause liver damage.