Copper Chlorophyllin vs Magnesium Chlorophyllin: What Is in Your Liquid Chlorophyll?

Copper chlorophyllin is the ingredient in most bottles of liquid chlorophyll, which surprises a lot of people who assume they are drinking the same green pigment found in spinach.

Short answer: almost every liquid chlorophyll is chlorophyllin, a water-soluble form of chlorophyll. Most brands use sodium copper chlorophyllin, where the magnesium at the centre of the molecule is replaced with copper for colour stability. A smaller number use magnesium chlorophyllin, sold as "uncoppered", which keeps the magnesium that plants use. The ingredient list tells you which one you are buying.

What is copper chlorophyllin?

Natural chlorophyll is fat soluble. It has a magnesium atom held in the centre of a ring structure, plus a long fatty tail that stops it dissolving in water. That is fine inside a leaf, but it makes natural chlorophyll a poor ingredient for a drink.^1,2

Sodium copper chlorophyllin is made from chlorophyll in two steps. The fatty tail is removed so it dissolves in water, and the magnesium is swapped for copper. The result is a semi-synthetic mixture of water-soluble copper salts, mostly copper chlorin e6 and e4.¹

Why manufacturers use copper

Chlorophyll loses its magnesium easily, especially when it meets acid, heat or light. When that happens it turns an olive brown. Copper holds on far more tightly, so copper chlorophyllin gives a bright, stable green that survives processing and sits on a shelf for a long time.³ That stability is why it is the default in liquids, tablets and even as a food colour.

What is magnesium chlorophyllin?

Magnesium chlorophyllin, often labelled sodium magnesium chlorophyllin or "uncoppered" chlorophyll, is also water soluble, but it keeps magnesium at the centre of the molecule, the same mineral found in chlorophyll in green plants. It is harder to keep colour-stable than the copper form, which is one reason fewer brands use it.

Copper chlorophyllin vs magnesium chlorophyllin at a glance

Is copper chlorophyllin safe?

Copper chlorophyllin has a long history of use. The international expert committee on food additives (JECFA) set an acceptable daily intake of 0 to 15 mg per kg of body weight for copper chlorophylls, which is roughly 900 mg a day for a 60 kg adult.⁵ In 2015 the European Food Safety Authority said it could not complete a fresh safety assessment of the copper forms because some data were missing, and noted they cannot be regarded as natural.⁴ That is a gap in the paperwork rather than a finding of harm.

Some people simply prefer to avoid added copper, especially if they already take a multivitamin with copper in it. That is a personal choice, and it is the main reason people go looking for an uncoppered bottle.

How to tell which one you are buying

Turn the bottle around and read the first active ingredient:

• "Sodium copper chlorophyllin" or "chlorophyllin copper complex" means the copper form.
• "Sodium magnesium chlorophyllin" or "uncoppered" means the magnesium form.
• "Chlorophyll" with a plant name, such as alfalfa, usually still means a chlorophyllin made from that plant. Check the fine print or ask the brand.

Two other things are worth checking while you are there: whether the bottle tells you how many milligrams are in each serve, and whether it contains preservatives or mint flavouring.

What we use

Our Liquid Chlorophyll is sodium magnesium chlorophyllin, plant derived and uncoppered, in a base of purified water, vegetable glycerine and organic colloidal trace minerals with humic and fulvic acids. There are no preservatives or additives, and it is unflavoured. Each 5 mL teaspoon serve gives you 100 mg of chlorophyllin, with 40 serves in a 200 mL bottle. If you want the magnesium form, you can buy liquid chlorophyll here and have it delivered anywhere in Australia.

Frequently asked questions

Is chlorophyllin the same as chlorophyll?

No. Chlorophyllin is made from chlorophyll, but the fatty tail has been removed so it dissolves in water. In the copper form, the magnesium has also been replaced.

Does magnesium chlorophyllin add much magnesium to my diet?

Not in any meaningful way. The magnesium sits inside the molecule, and the amount in a teaspoon is tiny compared with a magnesium supplement or a serve of leafy greens.

Why is my liquid chlorophyll so dark?

Concentrated chlorophyllin is a very deep green, almost black in the bottle. Diluted in a glass of water it turns a bright, clear green.

About the author

Grant Jenkins is a director of Propel Health Australia and an Accredited Exercise Physiologist. Our range is packed in a licensed facility in Brendale, Queensland. Every figure quoted for our product in this article is the figure on our printed label.

References

1. Drake VJ. Chlorophyll and Metallo-Chlorophyll Derivatives. Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center, Oregon State University. lpi.oregonstate.edu
2. Zhong S, Bird A, Kopec RE. The metabolism and potential bioactivity of chlorophyll and metallo-chlorophyll derivatives in the gastrointestinal tract. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2021;65(7):e2000761.
3. Natural Food Colours Association. Chlorophylls (E 140, E 141). natcol.org
4. EFSA ANS Panel. Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of copper complexes of chlorophylls (E 141(i)) and chlorophyllins (E 141(ii)) as food additives. EFSA Journal. 2015;13(6):4151.
5. JECFA evaluation, Chlorophylls, copper complexes. IPCS INCHEM. inchem.org

Disclaimer

This article is general information, not medical advice. The studies described used other products, mostly copper chlorophyllin, not ours. Speak to your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a medical condition.