Methylene blue (MB) is a chemical salt that is used as both medicine, and a dye for scientific research. It is substance with apparent complexities – some researchers consider MB a toxic substance, while others have discovered impressive beneficial physiological effects.
Too high of doses can have adverse action, and diminishing returns. On the other hand, when properly used, at the correct dose and under the right conditions, research has shown methylene blue having multiple beneficial effects. For example, various clinical studies have found MB to act as an antioxidant, improve cellular respiration and mitochondrial function, while inhibiting various stress substances and inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) synthase, and guanylate cyclase. 1, 2
In order to understand the potential benefits of MB, it is first important to better understand how it works. The intention of this article is to provide a clearer picture of MB and its effects on human physiology.
How Methylene Blue Works
Methylene blue is known as an singlet oxygen consumer. Singlet oxygen forms when a photosensitizer (a molecule that produces a physicochemical change in a neighboring molecule by donating an electron or abstracting a hydrogen atom) reacts with ground state oxygen. In mammals, singlet oxygen is one of the reactive oxygen species, and key player in oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation – toxic processes that can poison the cells when in excess.
Normally, singlet oxygen has a long lifetime; however, in the presence of Methylene Blue, it is quickly consumed and quenched. This makes methylene blue potentially very beneficial. First off, methylene blue, by rapidly consign singlet oxygen, may have very powerful antioxidant or free radical scavenging effects. Furthermore, stressed cells and tissues tend to have difficulties consuming oxygen, and therefore trouble oxidizing glucose and producing adequate ATP (energy) and CO2 (protection).
Methylene blue shows to be proportionally beneficial to improving cellular metabolism to the degree of respiratory efficiency. In other words, the positive effects of MB on respiration work proportionate to the degree of which the cells and tissues have become deranged. The more stressed and tumor-like the metabolism of a cell, the more effective MB is at restoring normal metabolism. As the famous Dr. Otto Warburg pointed out, the metabolism of cancer involves the inefficient consumption of oxygen by cells, or oxygen-deficient cells, that produce excessive lactic acid. 5
This is good news for anybody who is chronically stressed, as MB may be very effective for increasing respiration and therefore improving metabolism (higher resting pulse rate, higher body temperature and good energy levels). On the other hand, this brings us to the law of diminishing returns, which states that too much of any helpful thing, can have harmful effects. In a healthy person, with cells and tissues with a high rate of metabolism, MB may have little benefit, may be unnecessary or even slightly toxic. 6
In other words, methylene blue will not have a catalytic effect on the consumption of oxygen in healthy, normal adult tissues that are not deranged by aerobic glycolysis. They will however increase oxygen consumption in stressed tissues where respiration has been deranged or inhibited. This makes Methylene Blue best for normal, stressed tissues but potentially very beneficial treating for tumor cells. In fact, some research suggests that methylene blue may be able to reverse tumor metabolism back normal. 7
Methylene Blue Benefits
Below are just a few of the researched benefits of methylene blue:
Improves Skin Health: We use MB in a few of our skincare products, and for good reason. To start, one study showed MB is an effective antioxidant and free radical scavenger in connective tissue cells. Oxidative stress is a key causative agent in skin aging and disease. Additionally, MB had been found to be more effective at mitigating skin cell death than other common mitochondrial-targeting antioxidants. Lastly, MB can support healthy regeneration of skin tissue, via targeting the expression of youth-associated skin proteins such as elastin and collagen.1 2
*These effects have only been observed in cell and tissue studies. Animal and human trials are necessary to determine whether topical application or oral doses can have the same effect.
Anti-Microbial: Methylene blue was first used as a medicine in 1891 in attempt to treat malaria and was effective. According to current research, methylene blue, paired with antiparasitic drugs may help prevent the parasites from developing drug resistance. 8 In another study, MB was found to kill methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in superficial and deep excisional wounds. 9 MB combined with light has been found to inactivate the viral nucleic acid of hepatitis-C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1), while effectively treating cases of resistant plaque psoriasis. 10 Lastly, methylene blue has been proven to be an effective antifungal agent and may inhibit candida by causing mitochondrial dysfunction in the fungus. 11
additional benefits of MB include:
- uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation and acting as an electron transfer mediator to stimulate mitochondrial respiration 1
- increasing cellular oxygen consumption; thus increasing CO2, pulse and body temperature (improves cellular respiration)
- reducing consequential inflammatory mediator release of nitric oxide synthase, as a result of poor cellular respiration
- inhibiting guanylate cyclase, a lyase enzyme which is a target of nitric oxide.
- improving hypoxia.
- reducing the production of lactate, which is a biomarker of suppressed respiration, sepsis and shock. 2
- improving blood pressure balance and hypotension associated with various disease states. 3
- improving hyperdynamic circulation (abnormally increased circulatory volume), which can occur in of liver cirrhosis and hepatopulmonary syndrome. 4
- anti-tumor effects 5
- improving short-term memory 6
- treating methemoglobinemia (lack of oxygen in red blood cells) 7
- increases thyroid hormone T4, decreases prolactin and is antagonistic to estrogen 8
Safety Notes
MB is not considered a nutritional supplement and should not be administered to humans or animals.
Even pharmaceutical (USP) grade methylene blue may contain impurities such as arsenic, aluminum, cadmium, mercury, and lead. At high doses, MB can have toxic effects. 8
Never use industrial-grade and chemical-grade MB sold as a dye or stain can consist of more than 8% or 11% of various contaminants (NTP, 2008, Sigma Chemical Co, St. Louis, MO).
