Methylene blue helps brain cells take in more sugar, which they need to make energy.
Scientific Claim
Methylene blue (1–10 μM) concentration-dependently increases glucose uptake in primary mouse astrocytes by up to 225% under normoxic conditions, as measured by 2-NBDG fluorescence.
Original Statement
“MB significantly increased glucose uptake in astrocytes by 89%, 200% and 225% at the concentrations of 0.1 μM, 1 μM and 10 μM, respectively.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
definitive
Can make definitive causal claims
Assessment Explanation
The study directly quantified glucose uptake using a validated fluorescent tracer in a controlled cell culture system with clear dose-response and statistical significance.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
The study found that methylene blue helps brain cells take in more glucose when they’re stressed, which suggests it probably does the same under normal conditions too—even though they didn’t test it exactly that way.