How a Blue Dye Helps Brain Cells Breathe
Methylene blue does not bypass Complex III antimycin block in mouse brain mitochondria
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Antimycin (a Complex III blocker) didn’t just stop methylene blue—it suppressed its H2O2 production by up to 96%.
Scientists thought methylene blue directly reacted with oxygen to make H2O2. But if that were true, blocking Complex III wouldn’t affect it. The fact it did proves the dye needs Complex III to function.
Practical Takeaways
If you're considering methylene blue supplements for brain health, ask whether you have mitochondrial dysfunction affecting Complex III—common in aging and neurodegeneration.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Antimycin (a Complex III blocker) didn’t just stop methylene blue—it suppressed its H2O2 production by up to 96%.
Scientists thought methylene blue directly reacted with oxygen to make H2O2. But if that were true, blocking Complex III wouldn’t affect it. The fact it did proves the dye needs Complex III to function.
Practical Takeaways
If you're considering methylene blue supplements for brain health, ask whether you have mitochondrial dysfunction affecting Complex III—common in aging and neurodegeneration.
Publication
Journal
FEBS Letters
Year
2019
Authors
A. Gureev, E. A. Shaforostova, V. Popov, A. Starkov
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Claims (6)
Methylene blue acts as an alternative electron carrier in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, enhancing cellular ATP production and modulating monoaminergic neurotransmission to reduce fasting-induced metabolic stress and appetite.
Methylene blue can help mitochondria keep working when the first part of their energy system is broken, but it doesn't work at all when the second part is broken.
Methylene blue makes mitochondria produce more hydrogen peroxide, but if you block a specific part of the energy chain (Complex III), that extra production stops—meaning methylene blue needs that part to work.
In mice, methylene blue fixes energy problems only if they’re caused by a specific broken part (Complex I)—not if another part (Complex III) is broken. This is different from what was seen in guinea pigs.
When the first step of energy production is blocked, methylene blue can help mitochondria make energy again—but when the second step is blocked, it can't help at all.