Evaluation of acid neutralizing and buffering capacities of selected antacids in Ghana

This study has evaluated the acid neutralizing and buffering capacities (BC) of nine selected antacid brands (“L1-L9”) in Ghana. The active acid neutralizing ingredients were recorded and the preliminary antacid test (PAT) determined with 0.5 N HCl after 10 min. The acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) was evaluated with 1 N HCl by neutralizing the excess with 0.5 N NaOH after 15 min stirring. Buffering capacity (BC) was estimated with 0.1 N HCl and titrated with 0.1 N NaOH at 5 min interval up to 50 min. All determination were at 37±3 °C using a pH meter. All brands had as part of their active ingredients dried aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide, with 67% containing simethicone as antifoam. The PAT declared all brands to be antacids with pH range of 4.38 ± 0.21–6.43 ± 0.06. The ANC of all brands were in the range 13.16 ± 0.55–20.70 ± 0.18 mEq/g with “L4” and “L9” having the lowest and highest values respectively. “L9” further demonstrated a considerably higher BC up to 40 min whiles “L6” had the least BC up to 15 min. The ability of an antacid to have a high ANC and to resist significant changes in pH (longer BC) is crucial in assuring quality and efficacy of the brand.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND

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