A METHOD FOR THE CONTINUOUS RECORDING OF GASTRIC pH IN SITU. IV. FURTHER EVALUATION OF THE EFFICACY OF ANTACIDS IN VITRO AND IN THE HUMAN BEING

Abstract

In vitro and in vivo studies of the efficacy of antacids commonly used in ulcer therapy have been carried out by means of a continuously recording glass electrode. A specially constructed stomach tube is employed by means of which the glass electrode is introduced into the stomach. The similarity of the results obtained in the in vitro expts. and those obtained in the human stomach, recommend the former method as an adequate procedure for analysis of pH changes by various antacids. In the purely chemical sense, the oxide, peroxide, hydroxide and carbonate of Mg are the most effective antacids; however, when the physiological considerations of the upper pH range, pepsin activity and systemic alkalinity are considered, the Mg salts and CaCO3 are more effective when combined with milk or colloidal A1(OH)3. When buffered in this manner in their alkaline range, they produce long acting antacids. Milk or A1(OH)3 in adequate dosage best fulfills the physiological criteria of ideal antacids as set forth in the discussion of this paper.