Nice dive into this. As typical, the latest craze in longevity and cognitive is over hyped. I glanced over the studies and my reaction was meh. Yes, there are uses in medicine and industry, however there are still questions that needs answers on cognitive ability such as how long the does the effect last. What are the effects of over dosing (like most supplement, people tend to over do it.) Some of the other ongoing studies I'm not picturing in my mind how MB stimulate production of ATP. My memory of Citric acid cycle and Oxidative phosphorylation. Then again, this is a complex process.
Thank you KB. I agree that most of the studies are meh - even the good ones are small and/or based on rodent models, etc. At the same times it's interesting to see small benefits in studies on neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinsons', where effects on working memory aren't necessarily the main point of the study, and the results were probably publishable even without those cognitive effects. As for the biochemistry, it's mostly over my head, but there seems to be a consensus that MB donates electrons quite readily to the electron transport chain in mitochondria, and that, regardless of what effects MB ultimately has on brain and behavior, it can improve mitochondrial dysfunction. (And turn your tongue and pee blue. Also your poop, but I didn't think readers wanted that much detail. :)
Nice article! My first thought when I heard people were supplementing with methylene blue was, "What are these people doing?" For me, it was always a dye or a redox indicator in the lab. Interestingly, there may be -some- positive effects from using it. Of course, I wonder how people really use it. I know people who basically think that if something is good, then double the amount is even better!
Thank you! LIke anything else the dose makes the poison, so it's a little worrisome to see folks on TikTok or YouTube touting MB but not saying anything about dosage.
(Someone who assumed 4 mg/kg body weight was a safe dose and then doubled it would be at high risk of methemoglobinemia - ironic considering that this is the condition MB is FDA-approved to treat.)
Nice dive into this. As typical, the latest craze in longevity and cognitive is over hyped. I glanced over the studies and my reaction was meh. Yes, there are uses in medicine and industry, however there are still questions that needs answers on cognitive ability such as how long the does the effect last. What are the effects of over dosing (like most supplement, people tend to over do it.) Some of the other ongoing studies I'm not picturing in my mind how MB stimulate production of ATP. My memory of Citric acid cycle and Oxidative phosphorylation. Then again, this is a complex process.
Thank you KB. I agree that most of the studies are meh - even the good ones are small and/or based on rodent models, etc. At the same times it's interesting to see small benefits in studies on neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinsons', where effects on working memory aren't necessarily the main point of the study, and the results were probably publishable even without those cognitive effects. As for the biochemistry, it's mostly over my head, but there seems to be a consensus that MB donates electrons quite readily to the electron transport chain in mitochondria, and that, regardless of what effects MB ultimately has on brain and behavior, it can improve mitochondrial dysfunction. (And turn your tongue and pee blue. Also your poop, but I didn't think readers wanted that much detail. :)
Nice article! My first thought when I heard people were supplementing with methylene blue was, "What are these people doing?" For me, it was always a dye or a redox indicator in the lab. Interestingly, there may be -some- positive effects from using it. Of course, I wonder how people really use it. I know people who basically think that if something is good, then double the amount is even better!
Thank you! LIke anything else the dose makes the poison, so it's a little worrisome to see folks on TikTok or YouTube touting MB but not saying anything about dosage.
(Someone who assumed 4 mg/kg body weight was a safe dose and then doubled it would be at high risk of methemoglobinemia - ironic considering that this is the condition MB is FDA-approved to treat.)
Absolutely! That person on TikTok may not even know anything about dosage. It's just an act of blind faith for some.
Thank you!