Methylene Blue: Health Breakthrough Or A Dangerous Fad?

The number of times we are asked about methylene blue per day is astonishing. I don’t know who started the craze for it, but they are marketing geniuses.  It is being promoted as a cure-all for whatever ails you. You name a health condition or issue, and someone is out there claiming it can help with it.

What is Methylene Blue?

Methylene blue, also known as methylthioninium chloride, is a synthetic dye that was first developed to stain and inactivate certain microbes for laboratory work. Over time, additional uses for it were discovered.

What is methylene blue used for?

It currently has several uses in medicine and science. The first is that it is used intravenously as a treatment for a rare blood disorder called methemoglobinemia. This is a condition in which the blood loses its ability to carry oxygen throughout the body. It is also used as an antidote to cyanide poisoning. It acts as a dye or stain to allow objects to be seen more easily during medical procedures, as well as having several uses in surgical settings. 

One thing to keep in mind when considering methylene blue or other ingredients is that studies in mice or rats, as well as in test tubes and petri dishes (in vitro), should not be used to make claims about what might happen in humans. Lab studies and animal experiments can be a good starting point, but they are no means a guarantee that those effects will be seen in live people, and as is most often the case, the effects are not shown in people. It’s essential to examine studies conducted on live people, in vivo, rather than in test tubes and lab animals. We have seen numerous studies being quoted by websites and proponents of methylene blue that were not conducted on humans. In addition, there will always be studies that are not well done, which show benefits for a wide variety of things due to flaws in methodology or interpretation. We should only consider those studies that were conducted rigorously and were done correctly.

Methylene blue benefits

Methylene blue is highly beneficial for individuals with methemoglobinemia and has numerous applications in various medical procedures. It also has numerous valuable applications in medical laboratory work and scientific research.

While many health benefits are claimed, there is no properly conducted research on humans to support these claims. Human clinical studies have, in fact, often shown the opposite.

For example, a study by the University of Texas at Austin (which claimed that methylene blue might be good for cognitive health) found an eight percent decrease in cerebral blood flow. This would not be beneficial for brain health.

It’s essential to evaluate studies conducted on live human beings, rather than research performed on cell cultures and test tubes. Many things can occur in a test tube that cannot happen in a person—the same thing with lab animal studies. 

It’s easy to find test tube or lab animal studies to support any position on any health topic. They should not be relied on to say that’s what will happen to a live person.

Anecdotal claims of short-term benefits, such as increased energy, do not mean that something is providing tangible benefits. Lots of things can boost energy levels in the short term, caffeine, cocaine (why does it smell so good?), etc, but that does not mean that it comes without side effects or provides any real benefit. 

Methylene blue dosing

There is no properly done research on what a safe or effective dosage of oral methylene blue capsules and liquid drops might be. Any suggested dosage is just a guess. You cannot apply research done on an injectable dosage of something to an oral dosage of that compound. There are several factors involved in the digestion and metabolism of a compound that are bypassed when it is injected. Anyone claiming a dosage based on a study done on an injectable compound, for an oral version, is being very dishonest or needs to open a biology textbook.

Methylene Blue Supplements

Most people are not aware that it is not legal to sell methylene blue as a dietary supplement. That’s why many products are labeled as 'for research purposes only' or 'not for human consumption.' It has no GRAS status, generally regarded as safe (self-affirmed or otherwise), and no dietary supplement NDI.

Many methylene blue products proudly proclaim that they are pharmaceutical grade. Pharmaceutical grade is not a regulated term and can be put on any supplement. It means nothing. 

Another notable concern is that many methylene blue supplements are contaminated with formaldehyde. That’s not something you need to be ingesting.

Methylene Blue Risks

Methylene blue is not a harmless substance, and it comes with a ton of risks.

Did you know that it is considered quite hazardous if it contaminates drinking water?

"Industrial dyes are one of the dominant chemicals that make water unfit for drinking. Among these dyes, methylene blue (MB) is toxic, carcinogenic, and non-biodegradable, and can cause a severe threat to human health and environmental safety. It is usually released in natural water sources, which becomes a health threat to human beings and living organisms."

The first set of risks is drug interactions. It has a lot of severe ones. 

• Antidepressants, especially MAOIs.

  • It can cause serotonin syndrome, which can be fatal.

• Blood pressure medications

  • It can cause blood pressure to go up or down, which is very dangerous

• Stimulants and ADHD medications

• Antipsychotic medications

  • It can cause psychotic episodes

In people who have a specific genetic disorder, G6PD, they can develop a severe type of anemia that can destroy red blood cells.

It can cause hallucinations, tremors, other neurological problems, jaundice, nausea, fever, upset stomach, breathing problems, light sensitivity, and a host of other side effects that are too long to list.

Methylene blue is a serious medication, should not be sold as a supplement (and legally cannot be), and is not something that anyone can buy at the store or online. It should only be used under a doctor’s supervision, with careful monitoring, for a very specific and narrow range of uses.

Should you use Methylene Blue?

I understand that many websites and influencers are portraying methylene blue as safe and beneficial for various purposes, making it seem very alluring. However, your safety should come first.

Since it’s illegal to sell methylene blue supplements, there is no well-done research showing benefits from them; they come with significant risks for health problems and side effects, so we would not recommend using them.

Methylene blue is an example of something that was hyped due to the opportunity for numerous companies to make a quick profit, but many people will suffer as a result. Please don’t use it!

Methylene blue questions and support

If you have questions about methylene blue, please email us at info@rooted-nutrition.com, and we will be happy to answer them!