Acid Secretion after Calcium Carbonate in Patients with Duodenal Ulcer

Abstract

Gastric secretion after antacid ingestion was measured in a randomized double-blind study of 20 men with duodenal-ulcer disease. Four equivalent neutralizing doses of calcium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate and magnesium hydroxide were given hourly in the fasting state. In the third hour after calcium carbonate the acid output (mean ± S.E.M.) was 11.4 ± 1.8 mEq per hour. After sodium bicarbonate it was 5.6 ± 1.0 and after magnesium hydroxide 6.1 ± 1.1 mEq. Morning basal acid output was 5.3 ± 1.8 mEq. In addition to the twofold increase in acid output, significant increases in the acidity of the gastric juice and in the serum calcium were observed. The calcium carbonate itself, rather than a nonspecific action of antacids, appears to be responsible for the effects noted.