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Can Vitamin C really increase male fertility?

By Anonymous April 21, 2009 - 1:23pm
 
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I just read that "Vitamin C found in citrus fruits improves sperm count and motility". Is this true? If so, how much Vitamin C would be needed?

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Dear Anon, thank you for this question. I have also read a lot about vitamin C and healthy sperm. Medical literature reports that vitamin C which is contained in citrus fruits and other natural food sources can protect the sperm from oxidative damage. If the diet is not adequate to obtain this vitamin from natural sources, supplementing vitamin C may also improves the quality of sperm espcially in smokers. When sperm stick together (a condition called agglutination), fertility is reduced. Research indicates that Vitamin C reduces sperm agglutination, and supplementation with 200–1,000 mg per day increased the fertility of men with this condition in a controlled study. Many doctors recommend 1 gram of vitamin C per day for infertile men, particularly those diagnosed with sperm agglutination. However, another double-blind trial studying the effects of combined vitamin C and vitamin E supplementation found no improvements in semen quality among men with low sperm motility.

I think taking vitamin C supplements or eating a healthy diet that contains plenty of this important vitamin cannot hurt.

April 24, 2009 - 1:40pm
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