How much copper do you need during pregnancy?

What does the evidence say about copper during pregnancy?

1. The recommended dietary allowance for copper during pregnancy is 1,000 micrograms a day for all age groups, the same across the first through third trimester. 1
2. The tolerable upper intake level for copper in pregnancy is 10,000 micrograms a day for adults 19 and older, or 8,000 micrograms a day for pregnant teens 14 to 18. 1
3. Copper deficiency has not been documented in humans during pregnancy, even though the body needs to accumulate roughly 30 milligrams of copper total to supply the fetus and support pregnancy, most of it in the final weeks. 2
4. Copper deficiency is uncommon but can happen, most often triggered by excess zinc intake. In one reported case, a zinc-driven copper deficiency caused severe anemia and a drop in infection-fighting white blood cells, underscoring why very high zinc doses aren't harmless on their own. 3
5. Copper levels in blood actually rise substantially over the course of a normal pregnancy, partly linked to increasing estrogen, so a copper level that would look high outside pregnancy can be a normal finding on a prenatal lab panel. 4

Is copper safe in each trimester?

• First trimester. Copper needs haven't risen much yet at this stage; a normal diet and prenatal vitamin typically cover it. There's no reason to add a separate copper supplement now unless your provider has identified a specific deficiency.
• Second trimester. The fetus starts accumulating more copper as growth speeds up, though the bulk of transfer still happens later. Keep taking your prenatal vitamin as directed rather than adding extra copper on your own.
• Third trimester. This is when copper accumulation by the fetus is highest, with retention estimated at close to 0.3 milligrams a day in late pregnancy. If you're also taking a separate high-dose zinc supplement for any reason, mention it to your provider, since zinc at high doses can interfere with copper absorption.

Copper reference intakes during pregnancy