Best Methylene Blue Supplements for Athletes in 2026: 8 Brands Compared for Endurance, Recovery and Cellular Energy

Written by the NooBlue editorial team. We make and sell methylene blue, so read our ranking with that in mind. Every competitor figure below is what the brand states on its own page, and we say where a rival beats us. More guides: buying guides · the NooBlue blog · NooBlue home.

Methylene blue has become a talking point in endurance, CrossFit and longevity circles because of what it does inside mitochondria, the parts of cells that make energy. That makes “which one should I take around training?” a fair question. The honest answer has two parts. First, the human evidence for performance is missing, so nobody can promise you a faster time. Second, if you decide to try it, the product still matters: you want a dose you can control, a formula you understand, a lab report you can read, clear safety warnings, and a format that survives a training bag. We compared eight products on exactly those points.

Best Methylene Blue Supplements for Athletes Compared

Prices are one-time prices on each brand’s own site as of Sep 2026. “Cost for 10 mg” puts every product on the same footing, because the doses per unit differ.

How We Ranked These Methylene Blue Supplements

NooBlue makes the products ranked #1, #2 and #3. They are first because they are the products we make and recommend for athletes, and each section below says who should buy something else. We did not buy and lab-test the other products ourselves. For the other five, we read each brand’s own product page and ranked them on the same points, in this order:

1. Dose control. Can you start small and step up in clear amounts? The research on methylene blue points to a narrow useful range, so this comes first.
2. A formula you understand. Methylene blue alone, or with a clearly listed extra, is easier to judge than a blend when you are also taking a pre-workout and other supplements.
3. Documentation. What does the brand’s lab report actually cover: the raw ingredient or the finished product, identity or amount, and which lot?
4. Safety warnings. Does the page name serotonergic medicines, G6PD deficiency, pregnancy and age limits?
5. Cost and practicality. Cost for 10 mg, and how the format copes with a gym bag, travel and race-day routines.

For the wider market beyond athletes, see our rankings of the best methylene blue capsules and the top methylene blue brands.

The 8 Best Methylene Blue Supplements for Athletes, Ranked

1. NooBlue Ultimate Methylene Blue Capsules: Best Overall for Athletes

NooBlue makes these, and they are our first choice for training. Each vegetable capsule contains 5 mg of USP grade methylene blue and 10 mg of vitamin C, with rice flour inside a cellulose shell. The label says one capsule a day with food, and a bottle of 60 lasts two months at that rate. At $37.99, a 5 mg dose costs $0.63.

Why first for athletes? The 5 mg capsule is the smallest fixed dose in this comparison, so you can start low without measuring. If you later want 10 mg a day, the gummy at #2 is labeled for one a day at that amount. The formula has no other actives, so it won’t double up with what is already in your pre-workout or recovery stack. A swallowed capsule leaves no blue on your tongue, gloves or bottle, and a capsule bottle copes with a crushed bag better than a glass dropper does. The safety box on the product page covers serotonergic medicines, G6PD deficiency, pregnancy, breastfeeding and under-18s, which is more complete than most of the pages we read.

On testing, here is exactly what we publish. Contract Testing Laboratories of America (CTLA) analyzed our methylene blue ingredient, lot 2025022801, in report 135621. It confirms identity by HPLC and lists results for arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead. It is ingredient-level evidence: it doesn’t give a purity percentage, test the finished capsule or cover every batch. Nutricel’s lot certificates (#4 and #5) go further on the finished product, and we would rather say so.

The trade-off is cost per milligram. At $1.27 for 10 mg, our capsules cost more per milligram than every product here except LVLUP. You are paying for the 5 mg step and the plain formula.

Who it suits: athletes who want to start at 5 mg, keep their stack simple and take one capsule with breakfast. Who should look elsewhere: anyone chasing the lowest price per milligram (see #5), and anyone who wants doses below 5 mg (see #3).

2. NooBlue Methylene Blue Gummies: Easiest to Carry

NooBlue makes these too. Each Wild Blueberry gummy contains 10 mg of USP grade methylene blue and 25 mg of vitamin C, with 0 g of total sugars and 6 calories. A bottle of 60 costs $49.99, or $0.83 a gummy, which is cheaper per milligram than our capsules. The label says chew one gummy daily.

For athletes the appeal is practical. There is no water to find and nothing to swallow at the side of a track, and NooBlue gummies don’t leave the blue mouth or tongue that drops can. The same CTLA ingredient report applies. The limit is the dose: 10 mg is the smallest step, and a gummy can’t be split accurately.

Who it suits: athletes who already know 10 mg suits them and want the simplest daily routine. Who should look elsewhere: first-timers, who should start at 5 mg with the capsules or lower with the drops. Our gummies vs capsules comparison covers the choice in detail.

3. NooBlue Methylene Blue Drops, 1% Solution: Best for Fine-Tuning

The 50 mL bottle holds a 1% solution of USP grade methylene blue in distilled water, about 500 mg in total. With the calibrated dropper, one drop is about 0.5 mg, 10 drops is 5 mg and a full dropper is 10 mg. At $29.99 for about 100 servings of 5 mg, a serving costs $0.30.

Drops let you start at 1 or 2 mg and move in half-milligram steps, which suits athletes who like to test their response carefully across a training block. They are also cheaper per milligram than our capsules or gummies. The downsides are real for a gym bag: a glass bottle, a liquid that stains skin and kit, and a taste you’ll want to hide in water or juice.

Who it suits: athletes who want the finest dose control, mostly at home. Who should look elsewhere: anyone who wants to dose at the gym or on the road. See how to take methylene blue drops.

4. Nutricel Blue Boost: Lowest Cost per Milligram of the Capsules

Blue Boost is Nutricel’s main capsule: 12 mg of USP grade methylene blue per capsule with 35 mg of vitamin C ester and 235 mg of organic cacao powder, 60 capsules for $34.90. That works out to $0.48 for 10 mg, well under our capsules. Nutricel links lot-specific certificates of analysis from Eurofins, an accredited independent lab, which is strong documentation. Its safety notice names SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs and other serotonergic medicines, pregnancy, nursing and children, and says evening doses may affect sleep.

It ranks below ours on dose control. At 12 mg a capsule, you can’t start at 5 mg, and the cacao carrier adds a second ingredient to account for. We compare the brands head to head in Nutricel vs NooBlue.

Who it suits: experienced users happy at 12 mg who want the lowest capsule price. Who should look elsewhere: anyone starting out.

5. Nutricel Blue Liquid 1%: Lowest Cost per Milligram Overall

A 118 mL amber glass bottle of 1% solution, about 1,180 mg of methylene blue, for $30.00. At roughly 0.5 mg per drop, that is $0.25 for 10 mg, the cheapest in this comparison by a clear margin. Nutricel says every batch is tested by an accredited lab for identity, potency, heavy metals and microbes, with a QR code on the label that links to your lot’s certificate. Its safety notice covers serotonergic medicines, pregnancy, nursing and children.

The trade-offs are the same as any liquid: measuring, staining and a glass bottle in your bag.

Who it suits: experienced users who dose at home and care most about price. Who should look elsewhere: anyone who wants a no-mess routine around training.

6. Chemist Labs Methylene Blue Capsules: A Plain 10 mg Capsule in Bulk

Each capsule holds 10 mg of methylene blue that the brand describes as 99% pure USP grade. A 60-count bottle is $34.99 and a 120-count bottle is $44.99, so the larger bottle brings 10 mg down to $0.37. The brand says every batch is third-party tested and posts certificates for three capsule lots on its lab reports page. Its notice warns against use with SSRIs, in pregnancy or nursing, and in children, and mentions interactions with antihistamines such as diphenhydramine. The product description we read has no G6PD warning.

Who it suits: users who are settled at 10 mg and want a simple capsule at a lower price. Who should look elsewhere: anyone who wants a 5 mg starting step.

7. LVLUP Health Mito Blue: An All-in-One Mitochondrial Capsule

Mito Blue combines 10 mg of methylene blue with 400 mg of acetyl-L-carnitine, 100 mg of ubiquinol and 10 mg of PQQ in one capsule, 60 capsules per bottle. The brand page showed $80.99 when we checked, or $1.35 per capsule. It says every batch is verified by independent labs. Its page tells people on serotonergic medicines, pregnant or nursing women and under-18s to consult a qualified provider before use. We would go further: do not combine methylene blue with serotonergic medicines at all.

A blend like this can suit someone who wants one capsule instead of four. It is harder to judge, though, because you can’t tell which ingredient is doing what, and it may duplicate ubiquinol or carnitine you already take. If those ingredients interest you, our rankings of CoQ10 supplements and mitochondrial support supplements cover them separately.

Who it suits: athletes who want a single combination capsule. Who should look elsewhere: anyone who wants to test methylene blue on its own.

8. Optimal Human Methylene Blue Capsules: A Simple 10 mg Capsule

Optimal Human sells 10 mg USP grade methylene blue capsules, 60 to a bottle, a 60-day supply at one a day. The list price on the brand’s store is $39.99, or $0.67 per capsule. The brand says the capsules are third-party tested. The product description we read gave few other details, which is why it sits last here.

Who it suits: people who want a basic 10 mg capsule. Who should look elsewhere: anyone who wants a published certificate or a 5 mg start.

What the Research Says About Methylene Blue and Exercise

Here is the evidence, from strongest to weakest, and what it does and doesn’t show.

In people, nothing on performance yet. We searched PubMed and found no trial of methylene blue on endurance, strength, power or recovery in humans. The best-known human study looked at the brain, not muscle: 26 healthy adults took a single 280 mg oral dose or a placebo, and an hour later methylene blue increased brain activity during attention and short-term memory tasks and was linked to a 7% increase in correct answers during memory retrieval (Rodriguez et al., 2016). That dose is 56 times a 5 mg capsule. The authors chose it because earlier work pointed to benefits at 0.5 to 4 mg/kg and opposite effects above 10 mg/kg (full text). More is not better with this compound.

In animals, a hint about endurance. In mid-age mice, 60 days of methylene blue slowed the age-related decline in physical endurance, activity and exploration. It did not change the animals’ oxygen consumption, and the authors linked the effect to signaling in brain mitochondria (Gureev et al., 2016). In a 2025 study of rats put through exhaustive exercise training, methylene blue given through the nose was linked to less damage to nerve cells in the brain (Peng et al., 2025). Different species, different doses and a different route from a supplement capsule.

In cells, the mechanism. In human fibroblasts grown in culture, methylene blue raised the activity of mitochondrial complex IV by 30% and oxygen use by 37% to 70% while cycling between its blue form and colorless leucomethylene blue (Atamna et al., 2008). A review describes this as an alternative route for electrons in mitochondria (Yang et al., 2017). That is why athletes are interested. It is not evidence that a 5 or 10 mg supplement changes performance.

Compare that with creatine, which has a large body of human research behind it for high-intensity exercise performance (Kreider et al., 2017). Methylene blue isn’t in that league. If you try it, try it for what it is: a supplement studied for mitochondrial energy, with unproven effects on training.

Using Methylene Blue on Training Days

• Start at 5 mg. One capsule with breakfast, as the label says, for at least a couple of weeks. Our labels are written for one 5 mg capsule or one 10 mg gummy a day, so if you want 10 mg, switch to the gummy rather than doubling up, and don’t combine the two. Our guide to how many mg of methylene blue per day covers setting a daily amount.
• Take it early. Our capsule label says one a day with food, and many customers take it in the morning or early afternoon. People who notice an effect usually describe it as alerting, so a late dose can cost you sleep, and sleep matters more to recovery than any supplement. See morning or night.
• Never try it for the first time on race day. Run it through a normal training block so you know how it sits with your stomach and your pre-workout.
• Check your whole stack. If anything you take acts on serotonin, methylene blue is off the table. Read our methylene blue interactions guide before you add it.
• Know about pulse oximeters. At hospital doses, methylene blue can make pulse oximeters read oxygen saturation too low (prescribing information). Nobody has tested whether a 5 or 10 mg serving does this, but if you track oxygen saturation at altitude, keep it in mind.
• Expect blue or green urine. It is the dye leaving your body and happens with every format. Dark brown urine, a racing heart with tremor and sweating, or trouble breathing are reasons to stop and get medical help. See methylene blue side effects.
• Store it cool and dry. Our labels say to keep the bottle tightly closed away from heat and sunlight, so a car in summer is the wrong place for it.

For caffeine-free energy options that aren’t methylene blue, see supplements for energy and focus without stimulants.

Safety: Read Before Your First Dose

• Do not take methylene blue if you take an SSRI, SNRI, MAOI or any other serotonergic medicine, including many antidepressants. The combination can cause serotonin syndrome. See methylene blue and serotonin syndrome.
• Do not take it if you have G6PD deficiency, because it can break down red blood cells (StatPearls). See methylene blue and G6PD deficiency.
• Not for use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
• Not for anyone under 18. Keep it out of reach of children.
• Talk to your doctor before use if you take any prescription medicine or have a kidney or liver condition.
• Methylene blue can turn urine blue or green. This is expected.
• Do not exceed the suggested serving, and do not stack formats or brands without adding up the milligrams.

The same warnings appear in the “Safety: read before use” box on every NooBlue product page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best methylene blue supplement for athletes?

NooBlue Ultimate Methylene Blue Capsules are our pick: 5 mg of USP grade methylene blue and 10 mg of vitamin C per capsule, one a day with food, at $0.63 a dose. The 5 mg step lets you start low, the formula has no other actives to clash with your stack, and there is nothing to measure or spill. If price per milligram matters most, Nutricel’s 1% liquid is the cheapest option in our comparison.

Does methylene blue improve athletic performance?

That hasn’t been shown. We found no human trial of methylene blue on endurance, strength or recovery. The interest comes from cell studies of mitochondria and from animal studies, such as one in which 60 days of methylene blue slowed the decline in endurance in mid-age mice.

What dose of methylene blue should an athlete take?

Start with 5 mg a day, one NooBlue capsule, as the label says. If you later want 10 mg a day, our gummy is labeled for one a day at that amount. The single dose used in the best-known human study was 280 mg, but that was a one-off research dose, and the authors themselves note that higher doses can have the opposite effect.

How long before training should I take methylene blue?

There is no study to base an exact window on. Most athletes find it simplest to take it with breakfast, as our capsule label says to take it with food. If you train in the evening, still take it early in the day to protect your sleep.

Capsules or liquid methylene blue for training?

Capsules or gummies are easier around training: no measuring, no spills, no stained kit. Drops are better for fine dose control and cost less per milligram, but they belong at home. Many athletes use capsules for training days and never need anything else.

Methylene blue or creatine: which is better for athletes?

They are not substitutes. Creatine has a large body of human research supporting high-intensity exercise performance. Methylene blue does not have human performance data yet. If performance is your goal, creatine is the evidence-based choice. Methylene blue is something some athletes try on top, for mitochondrial support, with no proven training benefit.

Can you buy methylene blue as a supplement?

Yes. USP grade methylene blue is sold as a supplement in capsules, gummies and drops, including all of the products above. Avoid products labeled for laboratory or aquarium use, which are not made for people to take. See our guide to the best methylene blue supplements.

Is methylene blue banned in sport?

We can’t give anti-doping clearance. Prohibited lists change every year and differ between sports, so a tested athlete should check the current list for their sport and ask the team doctor. Choosing a product with a published lab report also lowers the risk of contamination.

Will methylene blue stain my mouth or kit?

Capsules are swallowed whole, and NooBlue gummies don’t leave the blue mouth or tongue that drops can. Liquid drops can stain your mouth, skin and clothes. With every format, urine can turn blue or green, which is expected.

The Verdict

For athletes who want to try methylene blue, NooBlue Ultimate Methylene Blue Capsules are our pick: a 5 mg start, a plain formula, full safety warnings and a format that lives happily in a kit bag, at $0.63 a dose. The gummies are the easiest 10 mg routine, and the drops give the finest control. If price per milligram is your priority, Nutricel’s liquid and capsules cost less. Whatever you choose, remember that the performance evidence in people is still missing, and read the safety list before your first dose. You can compare all three NooBlue formats on the shop page.

Sources

1. Rodriguez P, Zhou W, Barrett DW, et al. Multimodal randomized functional MR imaging of the effects of methylene blue in the human brain. Radiology, 2016, 281(2), 516-526. PubMed 27351678
2. Gureev AP, Syromyatnikov MY, Gorbacheva TM, et al. Methylene blue improves sensorimotor phenotype and decreases anxiety in parallel with activating brain mitochondria biogenesis in mid-age mice. Neuroscience Research, 2016, 113, 19-27. PubMed 27515402
3. Peng G, Pan W, Cai Z, et al. Intranasal methylene blue administration confers neuroprotection in rats subjected to exhaustive exercise training. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 2025, 19, 1648837. PubMed 41064749
4. Atamna H, Nguyen A, Schultz C, et al. Methylene blue delays cellular senescence and enhances key mitochondrial biochemical pathways. FASEB Journal, 2008, 22(3), 703-712. PubMed 17928358
5. Yang SH, Li W, Sumien N, et al. Alternative mitochondrial electron transfer for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and cancers: methylene blue connects the dots. Progress in Neurobiology, 2017, 157, 273-291. PubMed 26603930
6. Kreider RB, Kalman DS, Antonio J, et al. International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2017, 14, 18. PubMed 28615996
7. Ostrovsky A, Afzal M. Methylene Blue. StatPearls, updated January 2, 2026. NCBI Bookshelf NBK557593
8. Prescribing information for methylene blue injection (ProvayBlue), revised February 2024. DailyMed, National Library of Medicine. DailyMed
9. Brand product pages read September 26, 2026: Nutricel Blue Boost, Nutricel Blue Liquid, Chemist Labs capsules and lab reports, LVLUP Mito Blue, Optimal Human capsules.
10. NooBlue product pages: capsules, gummies and drops (label facts, prices, safety box and CTLA ingredient report, read September 26, 2026).

This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Methylene blue is a potent compound. Talk to a qualified healthcare professional before you start it, especially if you take any medication or have a health condition.