A clip of RFK Jr. putting a mysterious blue liquid in his drink recently went viral [1]. The blue liquid is probably methylene blue, a chemical that’s suddenly in the spotlight. It’s touted as a game-changing therapy that can slow the process of aging and extend lifespan [2].
Let’s take a look at why it’s generating so much excitement and what the current research shows.
Table of Contents
3. Implications
4. Alternatives
Section 1: Why the excitement?
Even before RFK was spotted putting it in his drink, methylene blue has been steadily growing in popularity among biohackers and health enthusiasts. How did we get here?
Methylene blue has a fascinating history. It was discovered in 1876 by a German chemist looking for synthetic dyes for the fabric industry. Not long after, a German doctor was using it to stain tissues so they’d show up better under the microscope. He found it targeted certain kinds of cells and tissues. This led to its early use in treating malaria. Methylene blue was the first fully synthetic drug. So it’s been around a long time.
But how did we get from treating malaria to the thought that methylene blue might help fight aging? Well, there were some intriguing research results that pointed in this direction.
For instance, researchers published results in 2008 from an investigation of the effects of methylene blue on human cells in the lab [3]. They found the chemical made cells last through many more generations than is normal. This seemed to be due to how methylene blue affects the mitochondria, the cell’s power plant. It increased energy production and protected cells from damage.
Problems with mitochondria and cell damage from oxidative stress are important mechanisms in aging. So this was a promising result that showed methylene blue could potentially boost longevity.
Another study added weight to this idea. It investigated the impact of methylene blue on the brains of rats. The rats in the study had a condition that causes their mitochondria to not work as well. This condition results in damage to brain tissue and symptoms like seizures. Treatment with methylene blue seemed to help. It prevented seizures and protected against cellular damage [4].
Again, the key mechanism of methylene blue appeared to be related to mitochondria in the cell. It stimulates greater energy production. It also helps eliminate free radicals, which are unstable molecules that damage our cells.
So given these kinds of experimental results, researchers wondered if methylene blue could extend lifespan in living organisms.
A trial was done through the Interventions Testing Program, which tests supplements and diets specifically to see if they extend lifespan. They tested methylene blue in mice. Here’s what they found: Overall, lifespan wasn’t statistically different for mice treated with methylene blue. They did find that the maximum lifespan seen in female mice increased by 6% [5]. Researchers concluded, though, that the study didn’t support the idea that methylene blue is an effective anti-aging substance. The effect size was too small and limited to one sex.
So what does this mean? Does this show us that methylene blue isn’t going to help with lifespan? Not necessarily. We’re very different from mice.
Consider the example of omega-3 fatty acids. Just as with methylene blue, we had experimental results that led scientists to think omega-3s could help slow down aging. The Interventions Testing Program put the theory to the test. They found no significant longevity benefits of fish oil — a potent source of omega-3s [6].
But I still take omega-3. Why? From a large trial called the VITAL trial, involving over 25,000 people, the group who took Omega-3 had an unexpectedly high 28% reduction in the risk of having a heart attack compared to the group who took the placebo [7].
So we’ve found solid benefits for omega-3s in human trials.
Section 2: Human Research
So do we find something similar with methylene blue also? Let’s look at what human trials show us.
One looked at the effects of methylene blue on the brain. Researchers scanned participants' brains while they performed tasks that tested their attention and short-term memory. Those who took methylene blue showed increased brain activity in several regions. They also performed better on the memory test [[8]].
Another study also related to brain function. Methylene blue was given to participants who were undergoing therapy for claustrophobia. The therapy relied upon forming new memories.
Researchers found methylene blue seemed to strengthen the formation of new memories [9].
So both of these studies showed positive effects of methylene blue on the brain.
Let’s look at one more study. This one is a meta-analysis, examining methylene blue in Alzheimer’s treatment. You might wonder what the connection is here. Problems with mitochondria in cells in the brain is a key contributor to Alzheimer’s. As we’ve already seen, methylene blue seems to help mitochondria function. That’s why researchers wondered if it could help with this disease.
The authors of the meta-analysis concluded results with methylene blue so far are mixed [10]. It shows promise, but existing studies have limitations like small sample sizes, short treatment durations, and dosage differences. We need more research to understand its potential, mechanisms, and safety.
So there are some interesting initial findings in human studies. They help support the idea that methylene blue impacts mitochondria, which could in turn boost the health of cells in our bodies — in the brain and elsewhere. But so far, no study has looked specifically at the effects of methylene blue on aging. So its impact in that area is, at this point, unknown.
Section 3: Implications
But we have an idea about the mechanism of methylene blue in the body. And we can theorize a potential impact on lifespan. So why not try it? What do we have to lose?
This is a fair question. And the current lack of evidence hasn’t stopped companies from making supplements containing methylene blue that promise anti-aging effects [11].
But here’s the problem. As with any drug, methylene blue has potential risks.
For example, methylene blue can lead to a dangerous condition called serotonin syndrome [12]. This is when too much serotonin accumulates in the body. It can happen because methylene blue can block serotonin from being taken out of circulation. This is the same thing many common antidepressants do. Other medications can have this effect, too. When serotonin levels are too high, the results can be life threatening. So taking methylene blue along with these other meds can be dangerous.
There is also a risk related to our blood. Some people have an inherited condition where their bodies can’t make enough of a certain enzyme. When they take methylene blue, it can alter their red blood cells so they can’t carry oxygen very well. This condition is very serious. And even people who don’t have this inherited condition can be affected if they have too much methylene blue.
It also can cause side effects ranging from joint pain to loss of taste [13].
So how much is too much? This is part of the problem. We don’t know what a proper therapeutic dose should be if we’re trying to use methylene blue.
And there’s another risk involved with taking methylene blue at this point. The sources you find on the internet might not be regulated or independently tested. You don’t necessarily know that what they say is in the supplement is actually in there. And there can be unwanted contaminants like heavy metals.
For all these reasons, I don’t recommend methylene blue to my patients. At this point, we don’t have good data about the health effects in humans. And it has known potentially life-threatening adverse effects. I’m waiting on more data.
Section 4: Alternatives
But, fortunately, there are things we do know can help extend lifespan. A recent study gives us a fascinating glimpse.
It found that we can make certain changes that can add a lot of years to our lives. If these changes are made when we’re 20, we can add between 11 and 13 years on average. If we make these changes at age 60, we can gain over 8 years of life. Even when we make these changes at 80, we can see an average of an extra 3½ years of healthy living.
What changes are we talking about? Diet. This study estimated the effects on life expectancy of switching from a standard Western diet to an optimal one. That optimal diet meant a much higher intake of whole grains, legumes, fish, fruits, vegetables, and nuts. And it sharply reduced processed meats, sugary drinks, and refined grains [14].
The change to eating more legumes all by itself seems responsible for a gain of up to 2½ years [15]. In other words, a powerful new “supplement” for increasing longevity that you’re probably not going to hear about from health influencers is… beans. Really, this shouldn’t be a surprise. We already know diet is critical for so many health outcomes.
And another powerful lever we can pull to increase a healthy lifespan is exercise. A massive cohort study looked at over 100,000 people with a follow up of 30 years. It found those who hit targets for moderate physical activity had a 19% to 25% lower risk of death [[16]]. Those achieving the targets for vigorous physical activity had similar risk reductions [17].
So if we’re concerned about adding healthy years to our lives, a healthy diet and plenty of exercise are smart places to start. We’ve got lots of data and we know they work. And the best part is that we don’t have to worry about dangerous side effects.
There are also supplements we can take that research shows support cognitive health, one of the potential benefits of methylene blue. For instance, the large COSMOS study found simply taking a well-designed multivitamin boosted cognition, memory, and executive function [18]. That’s part of the reason I take MicroVitamin. But just because I take a supplement, it doesn’t mean you have to.
Reference List
1. https://x.com/i/status/1887232439770087608
2. https://alphahormones.com/methylene-blue-mitochondrial-health/methylene-blue-mitochondrial-health/
3. https://faseb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1096/fj.07-9610com
4. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0197018606002531
5. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3954939/
6. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5032683/
7. https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(20)30985-X/fulltext
8. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5084971/
9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25018057/
10. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10631450/
11. https://www.livegood.com/methyleneBlue
14. https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1003889
15. https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1003889
16. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.058162
17. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.058162
18. https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.12767
