( CNN ) -- The same blue food dye found in M & Ms and Gatorade could be used to reduce damage caused by spine injuries , offering a better chance of recovery , according to new research . Rats injected with BBG not only regained their mobility but temporarily turned blue . Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center found that when they injected the compound Brilliant Blue G ( BBG ) into rats suffering spinal cord injuries , the rodents were able to walk again , albeit with a limp . The only side effect was that the treated mice temporarily turned blue . The results of the study , published in the `` Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , '' build on research conducted by the same center five years ago . In August 2004 , scientists revealed how Adenosine triphosphate , which is known as ATP and described as the `` energy currency of life , '' surges to the spinal cord soon after injury occurs . Researchers found that the sudden influx of ATP killed off healthy cells , making the initial injury far worse . But when they injected oxidized ATP into the injury , it was found to block the effect of ATP , allowing the injured rats to recover and walk again . `` While we achieved great results when oxidized ATP was injected directly into the spinal cord , this method would not be practical for use with spinal cord-injured patients , '' said lead researcher Maiken Nedergaard , professor of Neurosurgery and director of the Center for Translational Neuromedicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center . `` First , no one wants to put a needle into a spinal cord that has just been severely injured , so we knew we needed to find another way to quickly deliver an agent that would stop ATP from killing healthy motor neurons . Second , the compound we initially used , oxidized ATP , can not be injected into the bloodstream because of its dangerous side effects . '' Back in 2004 , Nedergaard 's team discovered that the spinal cord was rich in a molecule called P2X7 , which is also known as `` the death receptor '' for its ability to allow ATP to latch onto motor neurons and send the signals which eventually kill them . Nedergaard knew that BBG could thwart the function of P2X7 , and its similarity to a blue food dye approved by the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) in 1982 gave her the confidence to test it intravenously . It worked . The rats given BBG immediately after their injury could walk again with a limp . Those that did n't receive a dose never regained their mobility . Nedergaard told CNN that there is currently no standard treatment for patients with spinal injury when they reach the hospital emergency room . `` Right now we only treat 15 percent of the patients we receive with steroids and many hospitals question if that even works for that 15 percent ; it 's a very moderate benefit to only a subset of patients . So right now 85 percent of patients are untreated , '' she said . Nedergaard said the research team is n't claiming that BBG can cure spinal injuries , instead that it offers a potential improvement in patients ' condition . `` Even a moderate improvement in functional performance of the patient is a big , big event for these patients , '' she said . `` They can control their bladder . If they can just take small steps instead of sitting in a wheelchair all the time , it 's a tremendous benefit for these patients , '' she added . The dose must be administered immediately after the injury , before additional tissue dies as a result of the initial injury . Researchers are currently pulling together an application to be lodged with the FDA to stage the first clinical trials of BBG on human patients . `` Our hope is that this work will lead to a practical , safe agent that can be given to patients shortly after injury , for the purpose of decreasing the secondary damage that we have to otherwise expect , '' said Steven Goldman , Chair of the University of Rochester Department of Neurology .
Researchers find way to reduce secondary damage caused by spinal injuries . Compound blue is similar to blue food dye used in sweets , sports and . Only side effect of intravenous injection was that it turned the subjects blue . Researchers are planning to apply to the FDA for approval for human tests .