methylene blue

Can This Blue Chemical Really Boost Your Brain? Here's What We Know. The same dye is commonly used to enhance cells or their components under the microscope. (Ed Reschke/Stone/Getty Images) Over the past five or 10 years, methylene blue has come to be touted online as a so-called nootropic agent – a substance that enhances cognitive function. Vendors claim that it amps up brain energy, improves memory, boosts focus and dispels brain fog, among other supposed benefits. But so far, evidence supporting its health benefits is scant, and there are some serious risks to using the substance outside of medical practice. Methylene blue is a synthetic dye that exists as a dark green powder and takes on a deep blue color when dissolved in water. My work and that of others suggest that many synthetic dyes widely used in foods and medicines can trigger potentially harmful immune system reactions in the body. But unlike commonly used food dyes – one of which was recently banned by the US Food and Drug Administration – methylene blue is not derived from petroleum, also known as crude oil. Instead, it comes from a different family of dyes, which isn't thought to have these health concerns. Methylene blue was first synthesized in 1876 as a dye for textiles and was valued for its intense color and ability to bind well to fabrics. Soon after, German physician Paul Ehrlich discovered its ability to stain biological tissues and to kill the parasite that causes malaria — making it one of the first synthetic drugs used in medicine. The chemical didn't gain widespread use as a malaria treatment because it was no more effective than quinine, the standard therapy at the time. But in the 1930s, the dye found a new use in testing the safety of raw or unpasteurized milk85407-4) . If its blue color faded quickly, the milk was contaminated with bacteria, but if it remained blue, the milk was considered relatively clean. This safety test now is largely obsolete. But it works thanks to methylene blue's chemical superpower, which is that its molecules can swap electrons with other molecules, like a tiny battery charger. That same chemical superpower enables some of methylene blue's medical uses. Most significantly, doctors use it to treat a rare blood disorder called methemoglobinemia , in which hemoglobin, an iron-rich protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen, takes on a different form that can't do the job. A handful of clinical trials have investigated the effects of methylene blue in treating aspects of Alzheimer's disease in people, but a 2023 review of these trials notes that their results have been mixed and not conclusive . Methylene blue is generally safe when used under medical supervision. However, the chemical has some serious risks. For one thing, it can interact with widely used medications. Methylene blue inhibits a molecule called monoamine oxidase , whose job is to break down an important brain chemical, serotonin. Many commonly used medications for treating anxiety and depression target serotonin. Taking the supplement along with these medicines can cause a condition called serotonin syndrome , which can lead to agitation, confusion, high fever , rapid heart rate, muscle stiffness and, in severe cases, seizures or even death. In people with a rare genetic deficiency of an enzyme called G6PD , methylene blue can cause a dangerous condition in which red blood cells break down too quickly. At high doses, the chemical can also raise blood pressure or cause heart problems . Also, it's considered unsafe for pregnant or breastfeeding women because it may harm the fetus or baby1097-0223(199601)16:1%3C39::AID-PD789%3E3.0.CO;2-P) . Overall, while scientists have found hints of some fascinating properties of methylene blue, much larger, longer trials are needed to know if it truly works, what the right dose is and how safe it is over time. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the