Vitamin C and Sperm Quality

Over 40% of infertile men have high levels of free radicals in their semen. Free radicals naturally occur during the course of a cell's metabolic activity. While most cells have a capacity to deal with this via defensive enzymes, semen does not.

Free radicals damage sperm cell walls. Interactions between the free radicals and the cell membrane of the sperm can cause lowered motility, mutations, and ultimately sperm cell death.

The lack of defensive enzymes is no mistake by nature. The sperm generates a certain amount of free radicals on its own and can not tolerate excesses. When a sperm penetrates an egg the egg releases high levels of free radicals. This serves to kill off all the other semen and allow only one sperm and one egg to unite.


Prematurely exposing sperm to free radicals causes cell death and significantly contributes to infertility.

One major contributor to free radical damage is Smoking. In my practice it is considered essential before moving forward with fertility treatment, that both partners abstain from smoking. Smoking has been directly linked to increased oxidative damage of sperm.

While smoking is a lead cause of free radical damage to sperm cells, it is no the only one. Cell phone usage is directly implicated. Environmental pollution such as ozone, dust and particulate mater, some pharmaceuticals, exposure to radiation and hyper thyroidism all increase oxidative damage.

Taking in 1-2 grams of vitamin C has been shown to positively impact sperm counts. By supplementing vitamin C in higher levels it is possible to increase the levels of ascorbic acid in semen. The ascorbic acid acts as a free radical scavenger to protect the sperm cell membrane and ultimately defend the DNA contained within.

But Vitamin C is in my practice only one part of the equation. a diet rich in naturally occurring anti-oxidants is essential. dark skinned berries such as bilberry, blackberry and boysenberry is very helpful in increasing anti-oxidant status in patients. increasing the intake of leafy greens and members of the Brassicaceae family (cabbage, broccoli brussel sprouts) is also beneficial.