Hydrogen ion, pepsin and bile acid binding properties of hydrotalcite

The hydrogen ion, pepsin and bile acid binding properties of hydrotalcite (Altacite) were investigated in human gastric juice both in vitro and in vivo. Hydrotalcite is an efficient antacid in vivo and between pH 2,5 and 3,5 it binds and inactivates pepsin in vitro. The results in one case suggest that this also occurs in vivo. Hydrotalcite is capable of removing substantial amounts of bile acids from bile-containing gastric juice in vivo. The findings indicate that hydrotalcite could be a useful agent in the treatment of both gastric and duodenal ulcers.