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A Comparison Between Sodium Alginate and Magaldrate Anhydrous in the Treatment of Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Symptoms

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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 ≤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.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Novartis Consumer Health SpA, Italy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cattedra di Gastroenterologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Università degli Studi di Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, no. 6, 16132, Genoa, Italy

    Edoardo G. Giannini, Patrizia Zentilin, Pietro Dulbecco, Elena Iiritano, Claudio Bilardi, Edoardo Savarino, Carlo Mansi & Vincenzo Savarino

Authors
  1. Edoardo G. Giannini
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  2. Patrizia Zentilin
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  3. Pietro Dulbecco
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  4. Elena Iiritano
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  5. Claudio Bilardi
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  6. Edoardo Savarino
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  7. Carlo Mansi
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  8. Vincenzo Savarino
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vincenzo Savarino.

Appendix

Appendix

Study coordinator V. Savarino (Genova).

Investigators G. Bernasconi (Gallarate, VA), E. Corazziari E (Roma), R. Cuomo (Napoli), R. De Franchis (Milano), M. Del Piano (Novara), A. D’Odorico (Padova), O. Ferraù (Messina), A. Franzè (Parma), G. Gasbarrini (Roma), S. Marchi (Pisa), A. Pera (Torino), M. Perego (Pavia), P. Ravelli (Seriate, BG), A. Russo (Catania), V. Stanghellini (Bologna), V. Stoppino (Foggia), C. Surrenti (Firenze), F. Tosato (Roma), P. Usai (Cagliari), F. Valente (Taormina, ME), S. Vigneri (Palermo), M. Zilli (Udine), and G. Zoli (Cento, FE).

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Giannini, E.G., Zentilin, P., Dulbecco, P. et al. A Comparison Between Sodium Alginate and Magaldrate Anhydrous in the Treatment of Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Symptoms. Dig Dis Sci 51, 1904–1909 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9284-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9284-0

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