Doctors are raising alarms about the viral use of ‘blue brain juice,’ a synthetic dye promoted by Joe Rogan and Robert F Kennedy Jr for its supposed health benefits.
The substance, known as methylene blue, has taken over TikTok and Instagram with claims it can sharpen focus, boost mood, and even reverse aging.
Influencers have dubbed it ‘brain fuel’ and a ‘limitless pill,’ with some studies showing it can alleviate mental health issues. But not everyone is convinced.
Experts warn public figures like Rogan and RFK Jr are helping push fringe science into the mainstream, and that could carry serious health risks.
Neuroscientist Anne-Sophie Fluri told the Daily Mail many of the supposed benefits being promoted online are based on preliminary research in rodents or petri dishes, not robust human clinical trials.
‘Without solid evidence in humans, these claims are at best speculative and at worst potentially dangerous,’ Fluri said.
Medical experts have found the recreational use of the dye can lead to serious complications like seizures, serotonin syndrome, or destruction of red blood cells in vulnerable individuals.
These effects are more likely when the substance is taken with other medications, used in high doses, or consumed in non-pharmaceutical formulations.
Influencers have dubbed it ‘brain fuel’ and a ‘limitless pill,’ fueling a wave of biohacking hype. California makeup artist, Luba Cohen, posted a sponsored selfie on Instagram of herself sporting a ‘smurf tongue’ after take a dose of methylene blue
Methylene blue originally developed in 1876 as a textile dye, and eventually found niche medical uses, including treatment of malaria, cyanide poisoning, and a rare blood disorder called methemoglobinemia.
It is also used in surgery to highlight abnormalities during procedures like colonoscopies.
While none of its approved medical uses relate to cognitive performance, high-profile endorsements have pushed methylene blue into the spotlight.
Rogan told his audience earlier this year that he takes the compound every morning, thanking RFK Jr for the recommendation.
He claimed methylene blue has ‘profound effects on your mitochondria,’ a reference to preliminary studies showing the dye may improve energy production in cells under laboratory conditions.
RFK Jr, meanwhile, was seen in a viral video using a pipette to add drops of the electric-blue liquid into a drink mid-flight.
‘Rogan’s platform amplifies anecdotal ‘biohacking’ claims, often without challenge, while RFK Jr has spent decades constructing an ecosystem of distrust around legitimate medicine,’ said Fluri.
‘The brain is not a machine you can casually ‘optimize’ like a smartphone,’ Sophie said.
RFK Jr was seen in a viral video using a pipette to add drops of the electric-blue liquid into a drink mid-flight, sparking fascination and alarm.
A 2023 study published in the Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism found that methylene blue reduced blood flow to the brain by 8%, and concluded there is no strong clinical evidence supporting its use as a nootropic.
A 2023 study published in the Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism found methylene blue reduced blood flow to the brain by eight percent, which runs counter to the very cognitive improvements users hope to gain.
The danger isn’t theoretical. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a public safety warning about methylene blue’s potential to cause serotonin syndrome when combined with common antidepressants like Prozac, Zoloft, or Cymbalta.
The reaction can be life-threatening, with symptoms such as confusion, high fever, seizures, and in rare cases death.
A 2008 peer-reviewed case report, published in The Lancet, documented a fatal serotonin syndrome event after a patient receiving methylene blue while on SSRI antidepressants.
In total, the FDA cites 18 serious incidents, including deaths, linked to such interactions.
Even healthy individuals aren’t immune to risk. Methylene blue is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), a class of compounds that alters brain chemistry and carries interaction risks with numerous drugs and supplements.
High doses, above 7mg per kilogram can be toxic, causing tremors, confusion, vomiting, and potentially coma.
Despite this, the compound has found favor among biohackers and wellness influencers who microdose it alongside red light therapy and other supplements.
Health and fitness influencer Ben Greenfield, from Spokane in Washington, has been posting about the fad on his popular Facebook and Instagram pages listing its apparent benefits.
‘This is one of my favourite nootropics due to its wide-ranging benefits that include: enhanced mitochondrial function, provides neuroprotective effects against brain inflammation, increased memory and cognitive function, enhance the effects of light and oxygen therapies, and much more,’ Greenfield said.
California makeup artist, Luba Cohen, posted a sponsored selfie on Instagram of herself sporting a ‘smurf tongue’ after take a dose of methylene blue.
The picture caption claimed the dye protects cell damage, enhances memory and prevents build up in the brain linked to Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and dementia.
Health and fitness influencer Ben Greenfield, from Spokane in Washington, has been posting about the fad on his popular Facebook and Instagram pages listing its apparent benefits
However, the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation reviewed the compound and advised that only pharmaceutical-grade versions be used for research purposes.
‘Non-pharmaceutical-grade methylene blue can contain harmful contaminants and should never be used as a supplement,’ the report warns.
Unlike many other drugs, there is no known antidote for methylene blue toxicity.
According to a 2021 pharmacological review in Frontiers in Pharmacology, treatment is limited to supportive care.
In the rare event of anaphylaxis, a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction, administration should stop immediately as it can be fatal if not promptly treated.
Roughly 400 million people globally have glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, a genetic condition that makes exposure to methylene blue particularly dangerous.
In these individuals, even small doses can trigger the destruction of red blood cells, resulting in jaundice, organ damage, or death.
The National Library of Medicine warns methylene blue is contraindicated for G6PD-deficient patients. Additional risk factors include pregnancy and infancy.
The FDA has classified methylene blue as Category X for pregnant women, its highest warning, due to a documented risk of fetal abnormalities such as intestinal atresia. It has also been linked to respiratory distress in newborns.
Worsening the danger is the fact that many methylene blue products sold online are industrial-grade, intended for textile dyeing or aquarium use and not fit for human consumption.
Some may contain heavy metals like arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium, all of which are toxic and can accumulate in the body over time.
‘Misinformation hijacks uncertainty and turns it into fear or false hope,’ Fluri said.
‘Social media algorithms amplify the loudest, most sensational voices, and those are often the ones pushing unproven treatments or conspiracy theories. That leads to people avoiding life-saving interventions or trying dangerous shortcuts.’
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .