#202

I always mix my 10-15mg MB in about ¾ cup of sugarless lemonade. I fill the rest of the glass with a blast of water which turns the mixture light blue briefly then it returns to dark blue. Diluted this way makes for a pleasant refreshing drink.

I believe the citric acid in the lemonade has a similar effect to ascorbic acid. I don’t take MB that often, but when I do my urine is colored green. My pH of 5.5. is slightly acidic which could explain the greenish hue.

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#203

MB + Vitamin C = leucomethylene blue (LMB) + Dehydroascorbic Acid (DHA). MB is blue and LMB is colorless.

From ChatGPT “LMB is already in the reduced state and does not have the same capacity to accept electrons until it is oxidized back to MB. In essence, if you supply LMB directly, you might bypass or alter the normal redox cycling dynamics. Since the “action” (electron shuttling) relies on the conversion between oxidized and reduced forms, starting with LMB might not initiate the same cascade unless the body efficiently re-oxidizes it to MB.”

On the other hand, DHA gets transported into the mitochondria and through the BBB before being reduced to ascorbic acid. So you might make one process a bit harder to initiate, while aiding the transport of vit C where it’s needed with the LMB mix.

It’s hard to tell if taking MB or LMB is preferred, most studies use MB though.

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#204

EverVital, you’ve made a good point. I certainly don’t know which is better, LMB or MB. I’ve given LMB 3 trials over the last 12 months and found it to have no effect up to 25 mg daily. So, I’ll consider another trial of strictly MB at 30 mg daily to see if I see any effects. However, I did ask ChatGPT, “How long would it take the body to oxidize LMB back to MB?” Based on the answer below it shouldn’t make much difference unless my body is particularly slow in the conversion of LMB back to MB. So, I don’t expect my new trial of MB will be any different than my prior 3 trials of LMB.

ChatGPT Answer Below:

The oxidation of Leucomethylene Blue (LMB) back to Methylene Blue (MB) in the body depends on several factors, including oxygen availability, enzymatic activity, and the specific tissues involved. However, in most physiological conditions, this process occurs relatively quickly.

Estimated Timeframe for Oxidation:

  1. In the Bloodstream:
  • LMB is rapidly oxidized back to MB within seconds to minutes in the presence of oxygen and redox-active proteins (e.g., cytochrome enzymes, NAD+/NADH balance).
  • This oxidation happens efficiently due to the naturally oxygen-rich environment in arterial blood.
  1. In Tissues (e.g., Brain, Muscles):
  • The conversion rate depends on oxygen tension and local redox conditions.
  • Well-oxygenated tissues will oxidize LMB quickly (minutes to tens of minutes), while hypoxic (low-oxygen) environments may slow the process.
  1. In Cells and Organelles:
  • Inside mitochondria, where electron transport chain activity is high, LMB may be oxidized within minutes, depending on metabolic demand and oxygen levels.
  • Cellular oxidation could be slower in conditions of high reducing equivalents (e.g., excess NADH, low oxygen).

Key Factors Affecting Oxidation Rate:

  • Oxygen levels: Higher oxygen facilitates faster oxidation.
  • Enzymatic activity: Cytochrome oxidases and other redox enzymes play a role.
  • pH and metabolic state: Acidic or hypoxic conditions may slow oxidation.

Conclusion:

In most cases, LMB is oxidized back to MB within seconds to minutes in oxygen-rich environments like the blood and well-perfused tissues. However, in low-oxygen conditions (e.g., deep tissues, ischemic areas), the process could take longer.

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#205

Yellow + blue = green
B complex makes my urine bright yellow
When I take methylene blue I get the green urine thing too :slight_smile:

2 Likes
#206

Welcome to our exclusive club :slight_smile:

Great point about b!!!

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#207

I hesitated to add more to this very long thread, but I consider this YouTube video to be the most comprehensive no-nonsense summary of Methylene Blue I’ve seen so far:

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#208

I took some MB for the first time this morning before my run and had a pretty bad run. My heart rate was a little higher than usual and I felt tired overall. After reading about the ability of MB to inhibit nitric oxide (NO), I got concerned that this may be harmful to endurance exercise. I found the video below that talks about the different NO pathways.

Ultimately, it seems that MB shouldn’t have a negative effect since the Endothelial NO pathway is the primary pathway in use during endurance exercise. My guess is that I was just tired and had an off day.

MB effects on NO pathways:

  • Ineducable - MB mainly inhibits ineducable NO, which can cause runaway drops in BP that can be fatal, related to cardiac surgery, sepsis, burns etc. This is mainly why MB is used in hospitals.
  • Neuronal + Endothelial - MB slightly reduces NO in these pathways. But, the video says that it is a wash because the mitochondria being improved by MB create an enzyme that creates more NO.
#209

I avoid MB before exercise. I have found it makes exercise feel harder. I don’t understand it but I avoid paring the two. I use MB for brain function anyway so there is no reason for me to combine them

2 Likes
#210

Your observation agrees with how I felt today. My usual effort felt much harder and my HR was about 5-7 BPM higher than normal at the same pace.

The odd thing is, there are a lot of mechanistic arguments out there about how it should improve endurance exercise, mainly surrounding ATP and reduced lactate, which is main reason I chose to being taking it. Scott Sherr has an anecdote about an athlete running the Leadville 100 that improved by several hours with taking MB during the race every 4 hours that he relates on several podcasts. But, in a couple of the interviews, he also mentions that he also had the guy taking glutamine, which also may increase NO. Was it the fact that the athlete was taking the glutamine that he improved? Was it just because he was a middle of the pack runner with an ~18 hour finish and was going to improve anyway?

I guess it’s telling that there aren’t any MB/endurance exercise papers out there, at least that I’ve been able to find.

2 Likes
#211

I’ve not read about the history of methylene blue… not that its a big deal to me (its all just chemicals), but if you’re taking it because its “natural”, perhaps an issue…

Screen Shot 2025-03-04 at 4.47.20 PM
Screen Shot 2025-03-04 at 4.47.20 PM964×204 18.6 KB

Source: https://x.com/DrNeilStone/status/1896885352117538984

7 Likes
#212

I think it’s way messier than that for most people, and there are many that don’t even have a reason. I like the story about Rapa and the promise and now it works. It’s a protein so of course natural.

Sometimes it’s even hard to tell what’s natural. I’d say the statins are natural. The first came from mushrooms, or maybe red rice? They went from there. Still essentially natural.

If you ask a group of farmers whether Roundup is bad for you they’ll say no. Or shrug. It sure kills weeds, and the only person I know with Lymphoma has never been around it. If you ask a group of doctors whether drugs or vaccines are bad for you they’ll say not if you do it right.

When @RapAdmin posts his pyramid of the hierarchy of scientific evidence, I always want to put my feelings at the top. As a joke. Luckily I don’t have the graphic skills to do what I want.

#213

Desertshores, thanks for doing the research on this. Dawn Scientific appears to be the best company on Amazon currently for purchasing powder. I checked scores of other sellers from which it was sometimes impossible to trace the manufacturer, but I found that some of the other powders did come from India and China. So, Dawn Scientific seems like an excellent choice.

I assume you weighed an empty capsule and transferred 2 spatula scoops of powder into that capsule. You then weighed the capsule with powder and subtracted the empty capsule weight to get your 45 mg. You may have tested several capsules to see how close each came to 45 mg. Then, you just filled all remaining capsules with 2 scoops of powder to get ~45 mg each. If I’m wrong on this please correct me or if you’ve found a better method I want to know about it.

By the way, where did you get that spatula and funnel? I’ve ordered these, but they may be too large.

#214

The pictures you are showing were of my previous method. I have changed to filling the capsules directly using just the spatula; no funnel is needed.

Here’s how I do it:

I start by using a small scale to gauge the initial quantity of MB, then I visually estimate doses using a spatula. No funnel is needed—I transfer the powder directly into size 0 capsules, which are large enough to accommodate my spatula.

My current target is 20 mg per capsule. Weighing each one individually would be impractical, so I check random capsules and accept a range of 15–25 mg, which suits my needs.

I use a capsule-filling machine to streamline the process by holding the capsules in place. I have a small ceramic-topped lab bench (stain-resistant), and I wear a plastic apron to protect my clothes. I can fill roughly 100 capsules in 30 minutes.

This approach balances precision with practicality, though it demands careful handling to avoid spills and inconsistencies. After doing this a few times, the amount of MB blue that I spill is minimal.

I buy a 5-gram bottle of MB powder. This amount gives me ~250, 20 mg doses of MB at a cost of ~16 cents per dose.

3 Likes
#215

@desertshores: I bought one of these and I use it all the time to fill #0 capsules. Would that further ‘automate’ and speed up your process?

#216

I use a similar one to hold the capsules, but I fill the capsules with a spatula. Using the machine as intended with MB powder would be a complete mess.

3 Likes
#217

Methylene Blue is getting popular, maybe because JFK Jr. was spotted using it.

Healthspan is selling it now through their website.

Benefits

  • Enhanced Cognitive Function

Preclinical and clinical evidence indicates that methylene blue enhances cognitive performance by improving memory, attention, and executive function. These benefits primarily result from enhanced mitochondrial efficiency in neurons and modulation of neurotransmitter activity.

  • Neuroprotection

Neurons require a constant supply of energy to maintain function and prevent atrophy, with mitochondria serving as their primary energy producers. When mitochondrial efficiency declines, neurons experience energy deficits, leading to dysfunction, shrinkage, and eventual cell death—contributing to cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. Methylene blue supports mitochondrial function by enhancing energy production and reducing oxidative stress, helping to preserve neuronal integrity and overall brain health

  • Anti-inflammatory Effects

Chronic inflammation can damage neurons and accelerate cognitive decline. Methylene blue helps regulate inflammatory pathways, reducing harmful immune responses that contribute to neurodegeneration. By lowering inflammation, it may support brain health and benefit individuals with inflammatory or autoimmune conditions.

  • Energy Metabolism Support

Mitochondria power every cell in the body, but damage or inefficiency can reduce energy production, leading to fatigue and poor cellular function. Methylene blue enhances mitochondrial efficiency, helping cells generate ATP more effectively. This supports overall energy levels, physical endurance, and mental clarity.

  • Antioxidant Effects

Through a process called redox cycling, Methylene blue neutralizes harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS). By lowering oxidative stress, it helps protect cells from damage, offering a foundational boost to overall health and well-being.

3 Likes
#218

I’m most of the way through a bottle. It’s been great but I don’t use it often because I don’t want to need it and have it be worthless to me. I use it when I’m off a little or have a big day ahead.

1 Like
#219

This the one I have. I can do 2,000 caps in 4 hours with it.

1 Like
#220

One of the main reasons I take methylene blue is for its probable anti-viral activities.
“MB shows promise as a broad-spectrum antiviral in preclinical research, robust clinical trials are needed to validate its efficacy and safety for antiviral use”

Direct Anti-Viral Activity:
SARS-CoV-2: In vitro studies show MB inhibits viral replication by disrupting RNA replication and virion assembly.

Other Viruses: Activity reported against herpesviruses, influenza, and Zika in lab settings, potentially by blocking viral entry or fusion with host cells."

I also use it with red light therapy.

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT):

"MB acts as a photosensitizer, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) when exposed to light, which can damage viral components (e.g., RNA/DNA, proteins).

Used experimentally to inactivate viruses (e.g., HIV, hepatitis B/C) in blood plasma and platelet products."

I wonder if any forum members experiencing herpes virus-type mouth sores while taking rapamycin noticed a reduction after starting MB.

I take MB, but I have never experienced mouth sores or pimples at any dose of rapamycin, even before I started MB.

Nobody is going to pay for clinical trials of methylene blue.

8 Likes
#221

I’m going to interview Heathspan on their MB product and the science behind their decision to offer it. I’ll report back.

7 Likes