December 26, 2022 | Mitochondria supplements

Methylene Blue Benefits and Dosages

Today we have one ongoing clinical trial for Methylene Blue investigating its effects/benefits on Alzheimer's disease, but did you know there are over 18,000 studies done on Methylene Blue today?

Backtracking to the 1800's, German chemist Heinrich Caro first synthesized the compound to dye fabrics. 15 years later Paul Guttmann and Paul Ehrlich discovered its purpose in treating malaria.

During the end of the 19th century it was also used to treat patients with psychosis, a condition where patients lose contact with reality.

This was the beginning of understanding the powerful broad-spectrum benefits MB had to offer.

Today, Methylene Blue is only FDA approved to treat a few conditions like cyanide poisoning, and methemoglobinemia. Although it is not FDA approved it is still available for purchase for research purposes. Mark Sloan, author of The Ultimate Guide to Methylene Blue, explains why networking and profit margins may have drove MB off the list for our go-to malaria defense and treatment option for depression, cancer, and more.

WHAT DOES METHYLENE BLUE DO?

Methylene Blue is a powerful antioxidant, especially for the mitochondria. It improves efficiency of electron transfer between the four complexes within the mitochondrial electron transport chain. It also prevents electron leakage by anything that inhibits mitochondrial functions such as environmental toxins.

This improves your cell's energy production and efficiency. It also helps reduce the formulation of superoxide radicals in the process of oxidative phosphorylation which improves the cell's ability to use oxygen.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS?

Methylene Blue has been widely studied and here is a brief list of some of the harder-hitting benefits:

Enhances Metabolism
Improves energy production on a cellular level
Neuroprotective
Antiaging
Improves NAD+
Antioxidant
Increases focus and memory, short-term and long-term
Shown to help with depression and anxiety
May be a powerful tool against Alzheimer's and other neurological diseases
Is a Nitric Oxide scavenger

What most report feeling is an increase in energy, focus, clarity, along with a general lift in mood and wellbeing.

HOW MUCH METHYLENE BLUE SHOULD I TAKE?

While Methylene Blue has amazing benefits at lower doses, it completely changes from an antioxidant to an oxidant at higher doses. An individual should start with a tolerable dose of 1-3mg and work up to 5-15mg only from a source that is USP (pharmaceutical grade) certified and under professional guide.

Studies show most benefits occur at <2mg per kg in bodyweight doses. Side effects may occur beyond that point or if on certain medications such as SSRI's (antidepressants).

USP Grade Methylene Blue from Meraki Medicinal

SOURCING

As always do your own research and always ask a Dr. before changing anything in your routine.

1. Methylene blue inhibits replication of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7566888/

2. From Mitochondrial Function to Neuroprotection – An Emerging Role for Methylene Blue
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5826781/

3. Methylene Blue: The Long and Winding Road from Stain to Brain: Part 1 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27576224/

4. Methylene blue is more toxic to erythroleukemic cells than to normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells: a possible use in chemotherapy https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16052340/

5. Methylene blue protects dopaminergic neurons against MPTP-induced neurotoxicity by upregulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29882218/

6. Methylene blue. A possible treatment for manic depressive psychosis https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6222095/

7. Methylene blue and its analogues as antidepressant compounds https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28762173/

8. A two-year double-blind crossover trial of the prophylactic effect of methylene blue in manic-depressive psychosis https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3091097/

9. Neuroprotective Actions of Methylene Blue and Its Derivatives https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3485214/

10. Methylene Blue in the Treatment of Neuropsychiatric Disorders https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31144270/

11. A controlled trial of methylene blue in severe depressive illness https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3555627/

12. Methylene blue exerts a neuroprotective effect against traumatic brain injury by promoting autophagy and inhibiting microglial activation https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26572258/

13. Alternative mitochondrial electron transfer for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and cancers: Methylene blue connects the dots https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26603930/

14. Methylene blue photodynamic therapy induces selective and massive cell death in human breast cancer cells https://bmccancer.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12885-017-3179-7

15. Common antioxidant could slow symptoms of aging in human skin https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/05/170530140701.htm

For educational purposes only.

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MARCH 2025 |

SCIENCE

Methylene Blue: A Multifaceted Compound with Promising

Applications for UV Protection

Methylene Blue (MB) might be familiar to you as a laboratory dye or a medical treatment, but recent research suggests this century-old compound has remarkable properties that could revolutionize skincare and radiation protection. This versatile substance has demonstrated impressive capabilities ranging from UV protection to radioprotective effects, making it a compound of growing interest in both medical and cosmetic fields.

7 MIN READ

Methylene Blue as a Sunscreen Alternative

A 2021 study published in Scientific Reports by researchers at the University of Maryland and Mblue Labs investigated Methylene Blue's potential as a UV radiation protectant. The researchers found that MB not only provides effective UV absorption but also offers significant advantages over conventional sunscreen ingredients like Oxybenzone.

The study revealed several key findings about Methylene Blue:

It has a broad-spectrum absorption range covering UVA, UVB, and UVC wavelengths
It's more effective than Oxybenzone at blocking high-energy, short-wavelength UVB/C rays
It reduces DNA damage caused by UVB radiation in human keratinocytes
It increases cell survival after UVB exposure
It's a potent reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger, outperforming other antioxidants like Vitamin A

Perhaps most importantly, the researchers found that MB is environmentally friendly and safe for marine ecosystems. Unlike Oxybenzone, which has been banned in several locations due to its harmful effects on coral reefs, MB had no negative impact on the growth of coral species in laboratory tests.

"Altogether, our study suggests that MB has the potential to be a coral reef-friendly sunscreen active ingredient that can provide broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB," the researchers concluded (Xiong et al., 2021).

Methylene Blue's Radioprotective Properties

Beyond its potential as a sunscreen, Methylene Blue has demonstrated remarkable radioprotective effects. A 1975 study published in the Journal of Radiation Research examined MB's ability to protect rats from gamma radiation.

The researchers found that administering Methylene Blue before radiation exposure significantly reduced radiation damage as measured by several biomarkers:

It reduced increases in serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) after radiation exposure
It delayed the rise in serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT)
It protected against decreases in serum amylase activity
It preserved serum lipase activity
It delayed the decrease in serum lecithinase A
It preserved protein bands in pancreatic juice that would otherwise be lost after radiation exposure

The researchers concluded that "methylene blue has a marked biochemical radioprotective action on the serum enzymes and on the proteins of pancreatic juice of rats when it is given before exposure" (Chung & Nam, 1975).

This radioprotective effect appears to be optimal when MB is administered shortly before radiation exposure at doses of 38-40 mg/kg, suggesting potential applications in radiation therapy or radiation protection scenarios.

Methylene Blue as an Antioxidant Powerhouse

A particularly impressive aspect of Methylene Blue is its antioxidant capabilities. The University of Maryland researchers compared MB with other popular antioxidants used in skincare, including Vitamin A (retinol) and Vitamin C.

Their experiments showed that:

MB enhanced cell proliferation similar to Vitamin C
MB was the most effective at reducing mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) in all tested cell lines
When combined with Vitamin C, MB showed synergistic benefits, especially in older skin cells
Unlike BP-3 (Oxybenzone) and Vitamin A, which had minimal effects, MB consistently demonstrated antioxidant properties

"MB is no doubt the most effective ROS scavenger in human skin cells," the researchers stated. The combination of MB and Vitamin C produced "the highest skin cell proliferation rate and lowest cellular stress as determined by mitochondrial ROS assay" (Xiong et al., 2021).

Mechanisms of Action

How does Methylene Blue achieve these diverse protective effects? Several mechanisms have been proposed:

DNA repair activation: MB appears to stimulate DNA repair pathways, potentially reversing damage caused by UV radiation.
Antioxidant cycling: MB has a low redox potential of 11 mV, allowing for efficient cycling between oxidized (MB) and reduced (leucomethylene blue) forms. This facilitates electron transport in mitochondria and reduces superoxide production.
Free radical scavenging: Evidence suggests MB protects biological molecules against radiation-induced oxidation of water and decreases oxygen tension in organisms.
Protection of sulfhydryl enzymes: MB may protect sensitive parts of certain sulfhydryl (SH) enzymes against radiation damage.

Future Applications and Research Directions

The remarkable properties of Methylene Blue suggest numerous potential applications:

Next-generation sunscreens: MB-based sunscreens could provide both UV blocking and DNA damage mitigation while being environmentally friendly.
Anti-aging skincare: The combination of MB and Vitamin C could form the basis of highly effective anti-aging formulations.
Medical radiation protection: MB might be useful for protecting patients undergoing radiation therapy or in radiation emergency scenarios.

Before MB can be widely incorporated into consumer products, regulatory hurdles remain. In the US, the FDA regulates sunscreens as over-the-counter medications, and new ingredients must undergo rigorous safety testing. Nevertheless, the mounting evidence of MB's benefits makes it a promising candidate for future applications.

Conclusion

Methylene Blue's remarkable combination of UV protection, antioxidant properties, and radioprotective effects makes it one of the most versatile compounds being studied for skin protection and health. While more research is needed to fully understand its mechanisms and optimize its applications, the current evidence suggests that this century-old compound may play an important role in next-generation skincare and medical treatments. If you're ready to try the purest form of Methylene Blue on the market, use code TRY10 at checkout for 10% off your first order with Meraki Medicinal.

References

Xiong, Z. M., Mao, X., Trappio, M., Arya, C., el Kordi, J., & Cao, K. (2021). Ultraviolet radiation protection potentials of Methylene Blue for human skin and coral reef health. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 10871.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-89970-2
Chung, S. O., & Nam, S. Y. (1975). The Radioprotective Effect against Gamma-Irradiation of Methylene Blue in the Rat with Reference to Serum Enzymes and Pancreatic Protein Fractions Examined by Isoelectric Focussing. Journal of Radiation Research, 16(4), 211-223.