NutriStack
Copper and Iron, a caution.
Copper is required to mobilize iron for red blood cell production, while prolonged high-dose iron can suppress copper absorption, so imbalance in either direction disrupts the other.
One pair, every claim cited. The two substances, the type, the mechanism, the recommendation, and the primary literature.
Same shape as the other 1,729 pairs in the public database.
From the interaction database
What the row says.
Every entry follows the same shape: what is happening, the mechanism, the recommendation, and the primary literature.
At a glance
- Pair type
- Caution
- Evidence (highest tier)
- Strong
- Source citations
- 2 sources
- Stack Score effect
- −5 to your Stack Score (per scored caution row).
- Scope
- Supplement × Supplement
- Last verified
- May 30, 2026
Caution · Strong evidence
Caution
What is happening. Copper is required to mobilize iron for red blood cell production, while prolonged high-dose iron can suppress copper absorption, so imbalance in either direction disrupts the other.
Mechanism. Copper-dependent ferroxidases (ceruloplasmin and hephaestin) oxidize ferrous iron so it can load onto transferrin, so copper deficiency causes an iron-loading anemia; conversely, chronic high iron intake competes for shared intestinal divalent metal transport and can deplete copper.
Recommendation. Do not take high-dose iron long term without ensuring adequate copper intake. If iron-deficiency anemia fails to respond to iron, have copper status checked.
Stack Score
How this pair moves the number.
Effect on the composite score
If both Copper and Iron are in the same stack, this pair applies −5 to your Stack Score (per scored caution row).
The full algorithm, the clamping rules, and four worked stacks are documented at /methodology/stack-score.
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