Copper and Zinc
Last updated: August 9, 2026
These two compete — and it's a dose-and-duration effect, not a timing one.
Short answer
You can take both, but this pair needs more care than a typical "competes" pairing: it's not a timing issue, it's about how much of one you take, sustained over months.
Why Copper and Zinc compete
Copper's page says: Copper levels fall when zinc intake stays high — around 40 mg a day or more, sustained over months. It's the ongoing daily amount that matters here, not the gap between the two.
Zinc's page says: A high daily zinc intake — around 40 mg or more, kept up for months — gradually lowers the body's copper. This one depends on the total daily amount and how long it continues, not on how far apart the two are taken.
What this means in practice
This is where Copper and Zinc differ from most competing pairs on this site. Spacing the two doses apart in the day — the usual fix for a competing pair — does not fix this one, because the mechanism isn't about what's in your gut at the same moment. It's about the total amount you take in, added up over weeks and months.
If you take a supplement containing either nutrient regularly, especially at a dose well above the daily reference amount, that's worth a conversation with your clinician — not a scheduling fix.
Learn more about each nutrient
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Copper and Zinc together?
You can take both, but this pair needs more care than a typical "competes" pairing: it's not a timing issue, it's about how much of one you take, sustained over months.
Why do Copper and Zinc interact?
From Copper's side: Copper levels fall when zinc intake stays high — around 40 mg a day or more, sustained over months. It's the ongoing daily amount that matters here, not the gap between the two. From Zinc's side: A high daily zinc intake — around 40 mg or more, kept up for months — gradually lowers the body's copper. This one depends on the total daily amount and how long it continues, not on how far apart the two are taken.
Does timing matter for Copper and Zinc?
No. Timing isn't the mechanism here — the total daily amount, sustained over months, is what matters. See "What this means in practice" above.
Sources
The relationship described above comes from the same nutrient config that runs inside the Tavita app — see the methodology pagefor how it's sourced and verified. This page is educational information, not medical advice; talk to your clinician before changing your supplement routine.