Methylene blue
Longevity
A century-old dye and medication now promoted as a nootropic and mitochondrial aid.
What the evidence says
Real clinical use exists for methaemoglobinaemia. For cognition and longevity in healthy people the human evidence is essentially absent; most of what circulates is preclinical or personal report.
What studies used
No established supplement dose — it is a prescription drug at clinical doses. n/a.
Reported from published studies and product labelling — a record of what was used in research, not a recommendation. What is right for you is a conversation with a clinician.
Watch out for
- Serious interaction with SSRIs and other serotonergic drugs (serotonin syndrome)
- Purity of non-pharmaceutical product is a genuine unknown
- This is a drug, not a vitamin — treat it that way
Evidence base
established literature
Large human evidence base: several phase 3 or 4 trial reports, plus multiple meta-analyses or systematic reviews.
This letter measures how much human research exists, not whether it works for you — the tier above (Anecdotal) is the read on quality.
Research (12)
- Methylene blueAm J Ther · 2003
- Methylene-blue-associated encephalopathyJ Am Coll Surg · 2007
- [Methylene blue]Chudoku Kenkyu · 2008
- How worthwhile is methylene blue as a treatment of malaria?Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther · 2019
- Methylene Blue--a therapeutic dye for all seasons?J Chemother · 2002
- Methylene blueSurg Neurol · 1998
- "Lest we forget you--methylene blue..."Neurobiol Aging · 2011
- Repurposing methylene blue as activatable prodrugs for precise disease theranosticsChem Commun (Camb) · 2026
- Methylene Blue: An Antidote for Methemoglobinemia and BeyondPediatr Emerg Care · 2021
- Methylene blue revisedJ Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · 2006
- [Methylene blue (MB)]Chudoku Kenkyu · 2015
- Methylene blue for CPBAnesth Analg · 2007
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