Dr. Ron Hunninghake and Dr. Thomas Levy

Introduction to methylene blue 

Although methylene blue is not a new antioxidant, medical professionals and scientists are finding powerful new ways to use this synthetic dye in the human body. Studies have shown that methylene blue may have a particularly beneficial effect on neurological function as we age because it increases blood flow and oxygenation to the brain. [1]

In a 2021 study titled "The Potentials of Methylene Blue as an Anti-Aging Drug," the authors found that mitochondrial dysfunction is observed in systematic aging, which affects many tissues, including the brain and skin, which can lead to increased stress oxidative [2] . [The brain has by far one of the highest concentrations of mitochondria, considered the "powerhouse" of cells. Methylene blue normalizes impaired mitochondrial function in the brain, which may improve energy production in brain cells. This may result in improved memory retention. [3]

How it works 

The brain consists mainly of neurons, each of which has up to 100,000 mitochondria. The inner membranes of mitochondria contain a complex biochemical pathway called the electron transport chain. Electrons are transported down the transport chain through three complexes and then quickly released into the fourth complex to form ATP. ATP is an enzyme that transports energy to our cells.

Methylene blue effectively crosses the blood-brain barrier and is quickly taken up by brain cells in high concentrations. As an electron transporter, methylene blue increases the amount of ATP produced by brain mitochondria. More available electrons also help lower the concentration of unwanted free radicals.

Methylene blue-enhanced brain-related changes 

The result of using methylene blue is more efficient brain function with better control of chronic brain disorders such as:

- depression

– Parkinson's disease

– ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease)

– Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease is one of the most dreaded cognitive disorders in society. The abnormal buildup of proteins can form plaques around brain cells and create tangles or twisted strands of proteins in the brain. Oxidative stress and the resulting inflammation may contribute to cognitive impairment.

Methylene blue has a strong effect on neurological and cognitive problems. In 2019, researchers gave Alzheimer's patients 8-16 mg of methylene blue daily while monitoring their brain function. They witnessed how treatment with methylene blue stopped Alzheimer's disease in its tracks. [4] Treatment with 8-16 mg of methylene blue daily reduced cognitive decline by over 85%! Equally important, the study found that drugs currently approved to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease interfere with the therapeutic benefits of methylene blue when administered together [5] .

Methylene blue and vitamin C

 Methylene blue and vitamin C have a special synergy in the body - a type of exchange that helps maintain healthy cellular energy. Ascorbic acid is the reduced form of vitamin C. On the other hand, dark blue methylene dye is the oxidized form. When these two ingredients are combined, a transparent liquid form called leukoMethylene Blue is created with increased antioxidant power. Antioxidants are molecules that "extinguish the fire of oxidation", thereby reducing oxidative stress and the resulting damage at the cellular level.

What else increases the effect and influences the benefits of methylene blue supplementation?

Electrons are important for the effects of methylene blue, and eating high-quality plant-based foods is also important. Plants obtain and store electron-rich antioxidants from photosynthesis. Therefore, a high-quality diet consistently provides new electrons that help maintain good micronutrients in the body's cells. These micronutrients are especially important for optimal brain function.

In what other diseases can MB be effective?

 Helps in treatment

– Malaria

– Shock

– Ifosfamide-induced encephalopathy, a brain disorder caused by a chemotherapy drug [8].

– It is an antidote for cyanide and carbon monoxide poisoning, also known as methemoglobinemia, a condition in which the blood loses its ability to carry oxygen throughout the body.

History

 Heinrich Caro was a German chemist who was the first head of research at Badische Anilin & Sodafabrik (BASF). While working there in 1876, he synthesized a pure blue cotton dye, methylene blue. A year later, BASF received the first German patent for a coal tar dye for methylene blue [6] . [German biochemist Paul Ehrlich studied many dyes for their therapeutic properties. Ehrlich presented a chemical theory explaining the formation of antitoxins and their benefits on the immune response. In 1908, together with Elie Metchnikoff, he received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine [7] .

 

Sources:

  1. Xue H, Thaivalappil A, Cao K. The Potentials of Methylene Blue as an Anti-Aging Drug. Cells. 2021 Dec 1;10(12):3379. doi: 10.3390/cells10123379. PMID: 34943887; PMCID: PMC8699482.
  2. https://www.nature.com/articles/nrd2582#:~:text=During%20his%20work%20with%20dyes,proof%20of%20principle%20in%201904.
  3. Schelter BO, Shiells H, Baddeley TC, et al. Concentration-dependent activity of hydro methylthionine on cognitive decline and brain atrophy in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. J Alzheimers Dis. 2019;72(3):931-946. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31658058
  4. New study by TauRx shows a minimum dose of hydro methylthionine could slow cognitive decline and brain atrophy in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease. PRNewswire. 2019. Source: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-study-by-taurx-shows-a-minimum-dose-of-hydromethylthionine-could-slow-cognitive-decline-and-brain- atrophy-in-mild-to-moderate-alzheimers-disease-300965395.html
  5. https://www.basf.com/it/it/media/magazine/archive/issue-4/pioneer-thinker-then-and-now-methlyene-blue.html
  6. https://www.sciencehistory.org/historical-profile/paul-ehrlich
  7. https://www.goodrx.com/methylene-blue/methylene-blue-uses
  8. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/241035#:~:text=METHYLENE%20BLUE%20AS%20ANTIDOTE%20FOR%20CYANIDE%20AND%20CARBON%20MONOXIDE%20POISONING,-Matilda%20Moldenhauer%20Brooks