Spirulina supplement tested to stop chemo nerve pain

NCT ID NCT05025826

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: Nantes University Hospital Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tested whether Phycocare, a supplement made from spirulina, can reduce nerve damage caused by the chemotherapy drug oxaliplatin in people with metastatic gastrointestinal cancers. 73 participants took either Phycocare or a placebo daily for 9 months. The goal was to see if Phycocare could cut the rate of moderate-to-severe neuropathy by half at 4 months.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Phycocare (phycocyanin from spirulina)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a way to prevent or reduce painful nerve damage caused by oxaliplatin chemotherapy, helping patients stay on treatment longer.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-stage trial with only 73 participants. The supplement may not reduce neuropathy more than placebo, and results may not apply to all cancer types.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

digestive system cancer gastric cancer gastric neoplasm toxic encephalopathy

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

METASTATIC GASTRIC CANCER

Contacts and locations

Locations

Centre Hospitalier de Cholet

Cholet, 49300, France
Chd La Roche Sur Yon

La Roche-sur-Yon, France
Clermont-Ferrand UH

Clermont-Ferrand, France
Foch Suresnes Hosptial

Suresnes, France
Hôpital le Confluent

Nantes, 44000, France
Mutaliste Clinic Saint Nazaire

Saint-Nazaire, France
Nantes Uh

Nantes, France
Saint Gregoire Clinique

Rennes, France

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