Methylene blue, first created in 1876, began as a cloth dye. Scientists quickly realized it had medical advantages, and in 1891, it turned the primary artificial compound used to deal with malaria.1
It was additionally the primary artificial compound for use as an antiseptic. To this present day, methylene blue stays indispensable in hospitals worldwide, as it is also the one recognized antidote for metabolic poisons resembling cyanide and carbon monoxide.2 In truth, it’s on the World Well being Group’s (WHO) “Mannequin Record of Important Medicines.”3
Certainly, I consider that methylene blue is likely one of the most necessary medicines to have at house. Including to its lengthy checklist of advantages, rising analysis suggests it additionally advantages your mind and skeletal well being.
How Does Methylene Blue Work?
Methylene blue is a flexible compound with quite a few purposes, however its most vital impact is on mobile vitality manufacturing. It primarily interacts with the mitochondrial electron transport chain, which is essential for producing vitality in cells.
In regular mobile respiration, electrons derived from the meals we eat are handed by means of a collection of protein complexes within the mitochondria. This course of, often called the electron transport chain, in the end results in the manufacturing of ATP, the cell’s vitality foreign money. Oxygen serves as the ultimate electron acceptor on this chain.
Methylene blue’s distinctive property lies in its means to simply accept electrons and switch them on to oxygen, successfully bypassing components of the standard electron transport chain. This different electron shuttle enhances vitality manufacturing, notably in conditions the place regular mobile processes are impaired or inefficient.
By facilitating extra environment friendly electron switch and vitality manufacturing, methylene blue improves varied facets of mobile perform and total well being. This capability to work together with and optimize mobile energetics is what makes methylene blue a topic of curiosity in each scientific analysis and therapeutic purposes. In my interview with Francisco Gonzalez-Lima, Ph.D., an skilled on methylene blue, he defined:
“Methylene blue donates its electrons on to the electron transport chain. It obtains electrons from surrounding compounds, and maintains oxygen consumption and vitality manufacturing. By doing this, it helps oxygen to be totally decreased into water.
It turns into two issues which might be usually not discovered collectively. It acts as an antioxidant, as a result of oxygen is neutralized into water by donating electrons to the electron transport, and it produces vitality, as a result of when the electron transport pumps are transferring alongside oxidative phosphorylation, you could have a rise in ATP formation.
Oftentimes, we’ve got issues that enhance vitality metabolism, however then they result in oxidative stress. Within the case of methylene blue, that is not the case.
You’ll improve oxygen consumption charges, improve ATP manufacturing for vitality metabolism, and on the identical time scale back oxidative stress which, in fact, will result in discount in oxidative injury on the stage of mitochondria, then on the stage of the opposite components of the cells, and finally membranes of the cells, and reactions which might be cascades of this oxidative injury.”
Methylene Blue Protects Towards Mind Harm and Neurodegenerative Ailments
A March 2024 evaluate revealed in Critiques within the Neurosciences4 explores the usage of methylene blue as a therapeutic agent for traumatic mind damage (TBI), which is characterised by injury to mind tissue from an exterior pressure. TBI injury results in a cascade of neurodegenerative processes that proceed lengthy after the preliminary damage.
It shares many pathological options with neurodegenerative ailments resembling Alzheimer’s illness (AD), together with the buildup of beta-amyloid plaques and tau protein tangles. This similarity is critical as a result of it means that therapies efficient for one situation may be useful for the opposite. The authors defined:5
“Within the pathogenesis of AD in addition to within the pathogenesis of cerebral ischemia and TBI oxidative stress, progressive irritation, glial activation, blood-brain barrier dysfunction and extreme activation of autophagy are concerned, which means the presence of many targets … affected by neuroprotectors.
That’s, multivariate cascades of nerve tissue injury signify many … targets for therapeutic interventions. One in all such substances … utilized in multipurpose therapeutic methods is methylene blue (MB).
This drug … [has] an antiapoptotic and anti inflammatory impact, activate autophagy, inhibit the aggregation of proteins with an irregular form, inhibit NO synthase and bypass impaired electron switch within the respiratory chain of mitochondria.”
These insights are supported by different research.6,7 For example, a examine revealed in Medical Hypotheses8 explored how methylene blue mitigates the neurodegenerative injury brought on by extreme iron deposits within the mind, which triggers the manufacturing of extremely reactive hydroxyl radicals by means of the Fenton response, a course of involving iron and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).
These radicals trigger vital oxidative stress, damaging mobile parts, and accelerating neuronal dysfunction and dying. This course of not solely harms neurons but in addition promotes the aggregation of misfolded proteins, exacerbating the development of neurodegenerative ailments like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s illness. Methylene blue mitigates these results by inhibiting the Fenton response and decreasing hydroxyl radical manufacturing.
Methylene Blue’s Position in Supporting Bone Well being
One other examine revealed March 2024 within the journal Getting old9 investigated how methylene blue improves skeletal growing older when administered over a long-term interval. It additionally examined the results of mitoquinone (MitoQ), a mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant that reduces the buildup of reactive oxygen species.
The researchers performed each in vitro and in vivo experiments on mice. Outcomes from each experiments confirmed that whereas methylene blue and MitoQ didn’t alter the development of ongoing age-related bone loss, they did present a dose-dependent inhibition of osteoclast differentiation.
That is necessary as a result of osteoclasts play a job in bone resorption, which is the method of breaking down bones. An extra of osteoclast exercise results in bone loss and ailments like osteoporosis. By inhibiting osteoclast differentiation, methylene blue, in addition to MitoQ, reduces your danger for bone loss.
The authors additionally famous that whereas methylene blue and MitoQ scale back bone resorption, taking them alone is probably not sufficient to inhibit bone loss. To maximise their advantages, they must be mixed with life-style modifications resembling common train or anabolic bone loading. This multifaceted strategy is a simpler technique for mitigating age-related decreases in skeletal well being.
Different Methods Methylene Blue Advantages Your Well being
Methylene blue has additionally been proven to have a number of different well being advantages, resembling:
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Reduces the danger of urinary tract infections (UTIs) — I contemplate this one of the crucial vital makes use of of methylene blue, because it gives a robust, gut-friendly different to antibiotics for treating UTIs. That is particularly useful for the aged, who usually have compromised intestine well being. Since methylene blue isn’t metabolized by your physique, it will get excreted by the kidneys into your bladder, the place it accumulates and finally reaches concentrations excessive sufficient to behave as a robust oxidant, successfully concentrating on and eliminating pathogens within the bladder.10 |
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Improves pores and skin well being — In keeping with a examine revealed within the journal Cells,11 methylene blue promotes pores and skin firmness and elasticity whereas decreasing indicators of growing older by inhibiting oxidative injury, rising the lifespan of fibroblasts and selling cell proliferation. |
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Manages osteoarthritis — A 2022 animal examine revealed in Acta Pharmacologica Sinica12 discovered that methylene blue helps handle osteoarthritis by defending the cartilage from degeneration, decreasing synovitis (irritation of the joint lining) and relieving joint ache. It does these actions by upregulating the enzymes Nrf2 and PRDX1, that are important for managing oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. |
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Reduces danger of vasoplegia — This situation is characterised by persistently low systemic vascular resistance despite the fact that the center is pumping usually, resulting in extreme and uncontrollable blood vessel widening. Analysis reveals that methylene blue helps handle this situation by decreasing the results of cytokines that trigger blood vessels to widen. It does this by inhibiting enzymes like NO synthase and guanylyl cyclase, and by blocking M3 receptors as a cholinesterase inhibitor.13 |
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Promotes mitochondrial well being — A examine revealed within the Worldwide Journal of Molecular Sciences14 discovered that methylene blue will increase hydrogen peroxide ranges, which prompts the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway. This, in flip, boosts antioxidant gene exercise and reduces mitochondrial DNA injury. |
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Reduces reperfusion damage — Reperfusion damage happens when blood provide returns to tissue after a interval of ischemia, resembling when surviving a coronary heart assault or stroke. In keeping with a 2021 animal examine revealed in Acta Pharmacologica Sinica,15 methylene blue reduces mind edema following an ischemic stroke by inhibiting the activation of the enzymes AQP4 and ERK1/2, that are concerned in regulating fluid steadiness and irritation in mind cells. |
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Enhances the results of niacinamide — Methylene blue enhances the advantages of niacinamide (vitamin B3) on mind well being and metabolism, based on bioenergetic drugs skilled Georgi Dinkov.16 |
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Prevents additional environmental injury from sunscreens — I don’t suggest utilizing sunscreen because it interferes along with your physique’s vitamin D manufacturing. As a substitute, it’s much better to cowl up your pores and skin with clothes when you’ve reached your splendid solar publicity time. Nonetheless, if you wish to use sunscreen, resembling for prolonged outside actions, select one with zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide that avoids nanosized particles. Along with these elements, contemplate a sunscreen that has methylene blue, because it has been proven to be protected for coral reefs. Most sunscreens bought right this moment include oxybenzone, a chemical that damages aquatic ecosystems.17 |
Basic Dosing Suggestions
Methylene blue displays hormesis, which means low doses produce useful results whereas increased doses trigger opposed outcomes, so discovering the proper dose is necessary to maximise its advantages. As a normal guideline, dosages between 0.5 and 4 milligram per kilogram (mg/kg) of body weight are beneficial.
For an acute remedy, resembling within the case of cyanide poisoning, the higher restrict is between 3 and 4 mg/kg, which is often the vary given as an IV antidote. For nonacute, extra long-term remedy, a a lot decrease dose of three to five mg as soon as a day for many adults per day works higher. It has a half-life of 12 to 13 hours, so once-a-day dosing is ok. Taking it with ascorbic acid enhances its absorption.
This low dose works notably effectively for individuals who have reductive stress. Nonetheless, a better to seek out and safer to make use of different could be molecular hydrogen. Study extra from my current interview with Dr. Tyler Lebaron.
Deciding on the Proper Methylene Blue for Your Drugs Cupboard
With its quite a few well being advantages, methylene blue is a beneficial addition to your drugs cupboard. Nonetheless, selecting the best sort is necessary. You’ll discover three major grades in the marketplace — industrial-grade, chemical-grade (laboratory-grade) and pharmaceutical grade.
The one one I like to recommend utilizing is the pharmaceutical-grade selection, accessible by prescription. Keep away from industrial-grade methylene blue that’s usually present in pet shops for aquarium upkeep. They include vital quantities of impurities, with solely 10% to 25% being precise methylene blue. Equally, chemical-grade methylene blue is meant for laboratory staining experiments and include hint quantities of dangerous metals like lead, cadmium and arsenic.
Whereas pharmaceutical-grade methylene blue won’t be accessible at your native pharmacy, many compounding pharmacies inventory it. If you happen to’re having problem discovering a dependable supply, ask your doctor for a prescription to acquire it from a compounding pharmacy.
