An interventional study of Hypoglossal acupuncture and Sham acupuncture in Acupuncture, Taste Disorders and Dysgeusia, sponsored by Universität Duisburg-Essen. Recruiting at 3 sites in Germany. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-14.
Sponsored by Universität Duisburg-Essen · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate hypoglossal acupuncture in comparison to sham acupuncture and standard medical treatment (dietary recommendations) in the treatment of dysgeusia in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Taste disorders are frequent side effects in patients undergoing chemotherapy (CTX). Dysguesia has prevalence rates of 16% to 1000% during CTX with sometimes also persistent courses. Impact of dysguesia on appetite, body weight as well as health-related quality of life was shown. Until now, evidence for adequate treatment options is limited to specific diary recommendations. Acupuncture in the treatment of side effects of chemotherapy was investigated for nausea and xerostomia, but not for dysguesia. Therefore, this randomized controlled trial aims to investigate hypoglossal acupuncture in comparison to sham acupuncture and standard medical treatment (dietary recommendations) in the treatment of dysgeusia in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
52 studies on the registry are indexed under Dysgeusia; 12 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 75 is above the median of 49 across 28 interventional studies indexed under Dysgeusia.
Browse Dysgeusia studies →Universität Duisburg-Essen is the lead sponsor of 85 studies on the registry; 14 are open to participants now.
Compared within Dysgeusia, this study's primary condition as ClinicalTrials.gg classifies it; the registry's first condition term is Taste Disorders. The counts are of registry records indexed under each term, refreshed daily. How we classify →
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Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Single treatment of hypoglossal needle acupuncture during the chemotherapy administration: Treated points will be Jinjin (Golden Liquid/EX-HN12) left beside the lingual frenulum and Yuye (Jade Fluid/EX-HN13) right beside the lingual frenulum. Both points are treated in quick succession with immediate removal of the needle.
Other: Hypoglossal acupuncture
Single treatment of hypoglossal sham acupuncture uring the chemotherapy administration: Treated points will be 1 to 1.5 cun (a cun is defined as the width of the patient's thumb at the knuckle) beside the verum acupuncture points Jinjin and Yuye using the dull side of the needle.
Other: Sham acupuncture
This group adheres to specific dietary recommendations for dysgeusia of the German Cancer Society.
Behavioral: Dietary recommendations
Dysgeusia (Phantogeusia) (NRS - Numeric Rating Scale)
Time frame: 7 days
Dysgeusia (Parageusia, Hypogeusia, Hypergeusia) (NRS - Numeric Rating Scale)
Time frame: 7 days
Xerostomia (NRS - Numeric Rating Scale)
Time frame: 7 days
Stomatitis (NRS - Numeric Rating Scale)
Time frame: 7 days
Appetite (NRS - Numeric Rating Scale)
Time frame: 7 days
Impairment (NRS - Numeric Rating Scale)
Time frame: 7 days
Adverse Events (free text)
Time frame: 7 days
Treatment Expectancy and Credibility (TCS - Treatment Credibility Scale + BI - Blining Index)
Time frame: 7 days
Not enrolling at this site.
Started Jan 2015 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Dec 2027, 155 months after the start.
Of 18 interventional studies with no phase under Dysgeusia, half reached primary completion within 11 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 6 and three quarters within 16. This study's planned 155 months is above that.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
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Universität Duisburg-Essen