Regular Sugary Drink Intake May Harm Sperm Count and Quality, suggests study
Researchers have found that regular intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) can substantially decrease sperm count, immobilize sperm mobility, and cause harm to the DNA of sperm, thereby affecting male fertility. These results are based on a comprehensive narrative review which was released in Nutrients recently and assessed existing literature on the impact of SSB consumption on male reproductive health. The study was conducted by Win and colleagues.
SSBs are also a central source of added sugars in the world, as a single 355ml serving of soda contains on average 35–37.5 grams of sugar and 140–150 calories. SSB consumption worldwide rose by about 23% between 1990 and 2018, with men generally consuming more than women. For instance, in Singapore, the per capita average daily sugar consumption was 60 grams in 2018.
SSBs have been associated with several markers of waning male fertility health, such as decreased total sperm count, decreased semen volume, degraded motility, and abnormal morphology. Alarming, sperm counts across the world have plummeted more than 50% from 1973 to 2018. This is associated with unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and metabolic disorder caused by high intake of sugar.
In accordance with the review, men who drink more than seven SSBs a week, which translates to 245.0–262.5 grams of sugar, have a 22% lower sperm concentration than non-consumers. Also found was that semen volume in this subgroup was 6% lower, though not always statistically significant.
Other research also revealed moderate but not statistically significant reductions in sperm motility with high intake of SSBs. The effects of SSBs on sperm morphology are conflicting, with certain research even showing slight or zero change in the proportion of morphologically normal sperm.
Excessive sugar consumption via SSBs leads to obesity, which is disrupting the HPG axis with subsequent impairment of hormonal messaging and production of sperm. More particularly, higher sugar intake lowers inhibin-B levels, a hormone tightly linked to sperm number. Decreased inhibin-B to FSH ratios also play a role in reproductive dysfunction.
Additionally, SSBs produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), which induce oxidative stress, causing direct damage to sperm DNA and compromising the capacity for fertilization. ROS selectively damages the sperm membrane through lipid peroxidation and also induces mitochondrial dysfunction, which decreases both motility and viability of sperm cells.
These mechanisms are generally detected by tests such as the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA), comet assay, and TUNEL assay. Moreover, excessive sugar consumption has been associated with reduced leukocyte telomere length, a marker for early cellular aging.
The review pointed out that antioxidant therapy—application of agents like N-acetylcysteine, vitamins C and E, glutathione, and coenzyme Q10—has been promising in counteracting oxidative damage. Nevertheless, excessive use of supplements may compromise sperm function. Thus, researchers suggest following a balanced and antioxidant-enriched diet as a more viable and safer option.
Notably, artificially sweetened beverages were found to have little or no influence on the quality of sperm, although it was noted in the review that more studies were needed to explain these findings.
Findings
• 11 observational and cohort studies were analyzed (2000–2024).
• Males who drank more than 7 SSBs weekly had 22% lower sperm concentration compared to non-consumers.
• Semen volume was 6% lower among high-SSB consumers, although not necessarily statistically significant.
• Sperm motility had a negative trend with excess SSB consumption, yet results were not consistently significant.
• Hormonal imbalance and oxidative stress are the main biological mechanisms involved.
• Antioxidant supplementation could be of use, but balanced nutrition is preferable.
• Artificial sweeteners had inconsistent or negligible reproductive impact.
Repeated sugar-sweetened beverage intake is highly linked to decreased sperm count, decreased motility, and elevated DNA damage, an important threat to male reproductive health. Although causality is not yet established, the evidence is sufficient to support public health actions aimed at decreasing consumption of sugary drinks and fostering healthier lifestyles to enhance fertility and overall health.
Reference:
Win, W. K. et al. (2025) Sweet Drinks, Sour Consequences: The Impact of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages on Sperm Health, a Narrative Review. Nutrients, 17(10), 1733. DOI: 10.3390/nu17101733, https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/10/1733
