Why a sports nutrition shop writes about something it does not sell
The same question turns up every couple of months. Someone has seen a video of a man dripping bright blue liquid under his tongue and talking about "upgrading" his mitochondria, and they ask whether MaxFit carries methylene blue. The answer is short: no. And not because we sold out.
Methylene blue, or methylthioninium chloride, is a medicine. In the European Union it holds a marketing authorisation as a hospital medicine (Proveblue) for acquired methaemoglobinaemia - a condition in which blood can no longer carry oxygen normally. A clinician gives it intravenously, in hospital, in a monitored dose. It is not made into a food supplement and it is not sold as one in Estonia.
We could stay quiet here and let other pages own the keyword. But in Estonian search results this term is mostly translated hype: mitochondrial "biohacking", nootropic-dropper promises, and purchase links to foreign webshops. So here is the honest version. What the substance actually is, what the human trials actually measured, where the real risk sits in an Estonian context, and what is legally on the shelf if what you actually want is more daytime energy and a clearer head.
What methylene blue actually is
The compound was born in Germany in 1876 for the textile industry - a thiazine dye created by Heinrich Caro. It entered biology through the microscope: Paul Ehrlich used it to stain tissue and noticed that the dye bound selectively to certain cells. That observation produced the idea that a chemical can "target" something inside the body, and in 1891 methylene blue was given to malaria patients. Historically it is the first fully synthetic compound used as a drug in humans - the direct ancestor of chloroquine and the antimalarials that followed.
That historical fact does disproportionate work in today's marketing. "The oldest drug in the world" sounds trustworthy. In reality it only means the chemistry is old and cheap. It says nothing about whether a small oral dose changes anything measurable in a healthy person.
Its official medical identity today is narrow and well defined: a fast, cheap, effective antidote to one specific blood disorder. Everything else - nootropic use, "mitochondrial support", anti-ageing talk - is a research area, not an approved indication.
The mechanism: where all the mitochondria talk started
The mechanism itself is real, and it is worth understanding, because this is exactly where the discussion leaves the rails.
In the inner mitochondrial membrane, electrons move along the respiratory chain from complex to complex, and that movement ultimately produces ATP. Methylene blue is a redox mediator: at low concentration it can accept electrons itself (turning into its colourless leuco form) and pass them on toward cytochrome c, bypassing a bottleneck in the chain. In the lab this shows up as increased oxygen consumption and reduced electron leak, the leak that generates free radicals (Rojas et al., 2012).
That is genuine chemistry. But a real mechanism is not a real outcome. Every drug has a mechanism; the question is always whether that mechanism produces a measurable, durable benefit in a living person without a counterweight. Most "biohacking" videos hop lightly over precisely that gap: they explain the electron-carrier logic and then glide into a sentence about you being sharper tomorrow. Between those two sentences sit the clinical trials - and they are far more modest.
Hormesis: the dose curve that reverses itself
The most important property of methylene blue is not what it does, but how narrow the window is in which it does it.
The effect is hormetic, meaning curved: a low concentration acts as an electron shuttle, while a higher concentration starts behaving in the opposite direction - the substance itself becomes an oxidant and increases oxidative load (Rojas et al., 2012). This is not a theoretical nuance. In the clinic, methylene blue treats methaemoglobinaemia in one dose range and causes methaemoglobinaemia at a higher one. Same molecule, opposite consequence, the difference is the dose.
The doses used in research are described in the literature per kilogram of body weight, and they are small. We are not writing a number here for you to take, and that is not legal caution. The reason is simple: the dose a trial measured came from a precisely weighed pharmaceutical preparation under controlled conditions. Counting drops from an unlabelled bottle is not the same activity. When an effect reverses inside a narrow range, "roughly the right dose" is only reasonable if someone else has measured it out for you - and in Estonia that someone is a doctor, not a webshop.
What the human trials actually measured
The most-cited human study used functional MRI in healthy adults. Twenty-six participants received a single low oral dose or placebo and performed attention and memory tasks in the scanner. After methylene blue, the brain response during the attention task increased, and the memory retrieval task produced about 7% more correct answers (Rodriguez et al., 2016).
That is a real result and it should not be dismissed. But look at what it does not say. It was one dose, one scanning session, a small group of healthy people. The study says nothing about what happens when someone takes drops daily for eight weeks. It says nothing about long-term safety. It says nothing about the person who is fried at their desk at three in the afternoon in November - that is a completely different situation from an MRI scanner.
A second human trial looked at fear extinction learning in people with claustrophobia. The result was conditional and surprisingly instructive: the substance strengthened whatever the session happened to teach. Participants whose fear was already low by the end of the session kept the benefit a month later; those who left the session still anxious did worse (Telch et al., 2014). That is the exact opposite of how the trial gets quoted ("it improves memory"). Memory does not improve selectively for the good things.
In sum: the human evidence behind the "focus and energy" claim is small, acute, and mostly about a single dose.
The tau trials: where the big promise collapsed in the clinic
The strongest argument the hype videos deploy is the Alzheimer's research line. That story is worth telling to the end, because the ending is usually left out.
The idea was that thiazine dyes prevent tau protein from clumping. A research group ran a phase 2 study with methylthioninium chloride and the result was ambiguous - the effect appeared mainly in the subgroup using it as monotherapy, which is a classic post-hoc pattern (Wischik et al., 2015). A proper phase 3 trial followed: 891 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease, testing a purified derivative (leuco-methylthioninium). The trial did not meet its co-primary outcome measures (Gauthier et al., 2016).
Two things matter here. First: what was tested was a pharma-manufactured derivative at pharmacological doses under controlled conditions - not blue liquid in a dropper bottle. Second: even that did not work. When someone tells you methylene blue is "proven for the brain", the most useful fact available is that the best-funded, best-designed attempt to prove it failed. We are making no claim here about treating disease - we are simply reading out what the trial measured and what it did not show.
The social-media claim vs what the research actually measured
| What the video says | What human research actually showed |
|---|---|
| "Upgrades your mitochondria" | At cell level it acts as an electron carrier; in humans what was measured was brain response on MRI after a single dose, not mitochondrial "renewal" (Rojas et al., 2012) |
| "Improves memory" | One study found about 7% more correct answers after a single dose in 26 healthy people (Rodriguez et al., 2016) |
| "Proven neuroprotection" | A phase 3 trial in 891 patients did not meet its co-primary outcomes (Gauthier et al., 2016) |
| "Safe, because it is an old drug" | Old and well known also means the interactions are well known - including potent MAO-A inhibition (Ramsay et al., 2007) |
| "Works as a daily dropper" | None of the cited human trials studied daily long-term oral use in healthy people |
| "More is better" | The effect is hormetic - a higher dose reverses it (Rojas et al., 2012) |
| "It is a nootropic" | In regulatory terms it is a prescription hospital medicine, not a nootropic supplement |
Serotonin syndrome: the most important paragraph in an Estonian context
If you read only one part of this article, read this one.
Methylene blue is a potent inhibitor of monoamine oxidase A - the mechanism has been confirmed directly in the lab (Ramsay et al., 2007). That means the substance is not neutral toward the serotonin system. Combined with an SSRI or SNRI antidepressant, an MAO inhibitor, tramadol, a triptan or St John's wort, it creates a risk of serotonin toxicity. In hospitals this has been documented when methylene blue was given during surgery to a patient already taking a serotonergic drug. The US Food and Drug Administration issued a specific warning about it in 2011.
Why does this matter especially in Estonia? Because SSRI and SNRI antidepressants are an entirely ordinary prescription here - common enough that this is not some theoretical exception. And the most dangerous part is psychological: a person who puts a "supplement" under their tongue in the morning does not mention it to their family doctor or pharmacist, because they do not classify it as a medicine. That silence is what makes the interaction dangerous.
Serotonin toxicity starts with agitation, tremor, sweating, a racing heart, muscle twitching and confusion. It is not a state you monitor at home - it is an emergency call. If you take an antidepressant, "but I only take a tiny dose" is not an argument here.
Who should skip this topic entirely
This is a list without nuance. If you are in one of these groups, methylene blue is not your place to experiment:
- Anyone taking an SSRI or SNRI antidepressant, an MAO inhibitor, tramadol, a triptan, lithium or St John's wort. Serotonin toxicity is life-threatening and entirely avoidable.
- Anyone with G6PD enzyme deficiency. In that person, oxidative load can trigger the breakdown of red blood cells. Most people do not know whether they have this deficiency, because Estonia does not test for it routinely.
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women. There is no data, and nobody has the right to assume safety for a fetus.
- People with impaired kidney or liver function, where elimination of the substance is altered.
- Children and adolescents. There is not even a discussion here.
- Athletes in a doping-control testing pool. The substance itself is not on the prohibited list, but an unlabelled bottle of unverified origin from a foreign webshop is exactly the product class whose contamination cases have cost athletes dearly. You cannot assess a risk when you do not know the contents.
- And the broadest group of all: anyone planning to eyeball their own dose.
The purity trap: "aquarium grade" and "lab grade"
Methylene blue is sold worldwide for two purposes that have nothing to do with medicine: treating fungal infections in aquarium fish, and laboratory staining. Neither is manufactured to pharmacopoeial specification. Such a product carries no requirement that impurities be limited to a level safe for a human - it carries a requirement that the dye dyes things.
Webshop listings sprout labels like "USP grade", "pharmaceutical grade", "99.8% pure". Those are the seller's own claims unless they come with a certificate of analysis from an accredited laboratory, traceable to a specific batch number. In practice that certificate is missing, or it is a generic PDF with no batch reference.
Compare that with a pharmacy medicine. A medicine has a marketing authorisation holder, a batch number, a package leaflet in Estonian, quality requirements and a supervisory authority you can complain to. A dropper bottle ordered from a foreign webshop has a label. That asymmetry is the whole story - and it becomes relevant precisely when something goes wrong.
How it is classified in Estonia and what that means in practice
The State Agency of Medicines (Ravimiamet) treats methylthioninium chloride as a medicinal substance, not a food supplement. The practical consequence is simple: it is not on an Estonian supplement shelf and it should not appear there. Ordering a prescription medicine from a foreign webshop is not the same activity as ordering a supplement, and we are not going to quote statutes we are not qualified to interpret. If you want a precise answer about what you may order for personal use, that question goes to Ravimiamet or a pharmacist - not to a sports nutrition shop.
Our own position is boring and consistent: MaxFit does not sell methylene blue, will not special-order it, and has no plans to start. If that costs us a sale, so be it.
If what you actually want is more daytime energy and a sharper head
Most people who ask about methylene blue do not actually want methylene blue. They want their head not to be full of cotton wool at 3pm. That is a solvable problem, and it starts with boring things: sleep, iron stores (ferritin, especially in women), thyroid, vitamin D through the dark Estonian half-year, and caffeine timing. A blood test at your family doctor gives you more information here than any dropper.
Once the base is in place, here is what is legally sold in Estonia, labelled and batch-traceable. Prices are at the time of writing.
The most honest counterpart to "mitochondrial support" is coenzyme Q10, because it is an actual electron carrier in the respiratory chain - NOW CoQ10 200mg 60 veg. caps. costs 29,90 €, and a cheaper entry point is ICONFIT Capsules Coenzyme Q10 90caps at 18,90 €. If you want the better-absorbed reduced form, NOW Ubiquinol 200mg 60 softgels is 66,90 €, clearly the more expensive option. Taurine is an amino acid that energy drinks use for a reason, and you can have it without the sugar and colourings - MST Taurine 120caps is 15,90 €. Choline is the precursor to acetylcholine and powder is the cheapest way to cover it: OstroVit Choline 200g Naturaalne costs 10,90 €. On the herbal side, ginkgo has the longest track record - MST Ginkgo Biloba 60caps at 16,90 €. And the most honest answer to "I want more energy right now" is still the cheapest one: OstroVit Caffeine 200mg VEGE 200tabs at 7,90 €. Among adaptogens the most requested is maca, for example NOW Maca 500mg 100 veg. caps. at 11,90 €.
| Product | What it is actually for | Price (at the time of writing) |
|---|---|---|
| NOW CoQ10 200mg 60 veg. caps. | Electron carrier in the respiratory chain, mitochondrial support | 29,90 € |
| ICONFIT Capsules Coenzyme Q10 90caps | Cheaper entry point to the same active | 18,90 € |
| NOW Ubiquinol 200mg 60 softgels | Reduced, better-absorbed form | 66,90 € |
| MST Taurine 120caps | Amino acid, the energy-drink active without the drink | 15,90 € |
| OstroVit Choline 200g Naturaalne | Acetylcholine precursor, cheapest powder form | 10,90 € |
| MST Ginkgo Biloba 60caps | Traditional herb used for cerebral circulation | 16,90 € |
| OstroVit Caffeine 200mg VEGE 200tabs | The only one whose acute effect is beyond argument | 7,90 € |
The full selection sits in the energy and brain category. If your real problem is pervasive fatigue, it is worth reviewing vitamin complexes too, and if you want the compound with the most human research on brain energy metabolism, that is creatine - not a blue drop.
For further reading, we covered the differences between choline forms in the Alpha-GPC guide, how to judge choline product quality in how to choose a quality choline, and an alternative energy substrate in MCT oil.
FAQ
Does MaxFit sell methylene blue?
No. It is a medicine, not a food supplement, and we do not sell medicines. We will not special-order it either.
Am I allowed to order it from abroad myself?
Ordering a prescription medicine is not the same as ordering a supplement, and we are not going to recite rules we are not qualified to interpret. The precise answer comes from Ravimiamet or a pharmacist. Whatever the rule, two practical problems remain: you do not know what is actually in the bottle, and you do not know whether it fits with your medication.
Why does it turn urine blue?
Because it is a dye, and part of it is excreted unchanged. Blue or greenish urine is a known and described effect of this substance. It is not a sign that something is working - it is a sign that you took a dye.
Is methylene blue on the doping list?
The substance itself is not on the prohibited list. That does not make it a safe choice for a competing athlete: an unlabelled product of unverified origin is a contamination risk you cannot assess. If you are in a testing pool, this is not a risk worth taking.
Is CoQ10 just "the same thing but legal"?
No, and it should not be sold that way. Coenzyme Q10 is a component of your own respiratory chain and is sold as a food supplement; methylene blue is a synthetic dye that acts as an electron mediator and is sold as a medicine. All they share is the general theme of mitochondria.
I have already been taking drops for a while - what now?
Talk to a doctor, especially if you take any antidepressant, tramadol, a triptan or St John's wort. Take the bottle with you or photograph the label. This is not a moral judgement, it is an interaction question - and a doctor can only help if they know what you are taking.
References
- Rodriguez P, Zhou W, Barrett DW, et al. (2016). Multimodal randomized functional MR imaging of the effects of methylene blue in the human brain. Radiology, 281(2), 516-526. PMID: 27351678 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27351678/
- Rojas JC, Bruchey AK, Gonzalez-Lima F. (2012). Neurometabolic mechanisms for memory enhancement and neuroprotection of methylene blue. Progress in Neurobiology, 96(1), 32-45. PMID: 22067440 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22067440/
- Ramsay RR, Dunford C, Gillman PK. (2007). Methylene blue and serotonin toxicity: inhibition of monoamine oxidase A (MAO A) confirms a theoretical prediction. British Journal of Pharmacology, 152(6), 946-951. PMID: 17721552 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17721552/
- Gauthier S, Feldman HH, Schneider LS, et al. (2016). Efficacy and safety of tau-aggregation inhibitor therapy in patients with mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease: a randomised, controlled, double-blind, parallel-arm, phase 3 trial. Lancet, 388(10062), 2873-2884. PMID: 27863809 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27863809/
- Wischik CM, Staff RT, Wischik DJ, et al. (2015). Tau aggregation inhibitor therapy: an exploratory phase 2 study in mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 44(2), 705-720. PMID: 25550228 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25550228/
- Telch MJ, Bruchey AK, Rosenfield D, et al. (2014). Effects of post-session administration of methylene blue on fear extinction and contextual memory in adults with claustrophobia. American Journal of Psychiatry, 171(10), 1091-1098. PMID: 25018057 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25018057/
