title: A comparison between sodium alginate and magaldrate anhydrous in the treatment of patients with gastroesophageal reflux symptoms.
abstract: The aims of the present study were to compare effects of sodium alginate and the antacid magaldrate anhydrous in adults with gastroesophageal reflux (GOR) symptoms. Patients with heartburn and/or acid regurgitation for at least 3 days in the week before the study started (n=203) were randomized to receive a single dose of sodium alginate or magaldrate anhydrous at the onset of symptoms during a 3-day run-in period. Patients with symptoms during the run-in (n=191) were rerandomized to receive a 14-day treatment with either drug given as four daily doses. A speed of action < or =30 min was significantly more frequent among patients in the alginate group (49.4% vs. 40.4%; P=0.0074). A trend toward a more prolonged duration of action (median: 16.5 vs. 12.7 hr) and a greater sum of the symptom intensity difference (median: 40.0 vs. 31.0) was observed in the sodium alginate group. Total disappearance of symptoms was reported in 81.6% and 73.9% of patients in the sodium alginate group and magaldrate group, respectively. We conclude that sodium alginate was faster than magaldrate in relieving GRO symptoms and showed a tendency toward a more prolonged duration of action and a higher level of efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra di Gastroenterologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Università degli Studi di Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, no. 6, 16132, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Edoardo G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Giannini
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zentilin
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dulbecco
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Iiritano
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bilardi
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Savarino
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mansi
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Savarino
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000464:Alginates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000863:Antacids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008276:Magnesium Hydroxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D000863:Antacids; D004337:Drug Carriers; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide; C016545:magaldrate; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D008276:Magnesium Hydroxide