Antacid properties of calcium, magnesium, and aluminum salts of water‐insoluble aliphatic acids

The antacid properties of several calcium, magnesium, and aluminum salts of aliphatic acids were studied. A number of the salts showed potential antacid properties in vitro . Of this group calcium laurate also showed promising results by in vivo tests in dogs and humans. Along with their acid-neutralizing capacity, higher molecular weight metal salts have several interesting physical properties, for example, their insolubility in aqueous fluids above approximately pH 5, and their neutralizing properties below this pH. They tend to float on the surface of solutions and cling to the walls of a container before they react with acidic solutions. Following reaction with hydrochloric acid, salts of higher molecular weight aliphatic acids form insoluble aliphatic acids which are reputed to retard emptying of stomach fluids. A possible drawback to the higher molecular weight salts is a lower weight-to-weight antacid capacity when compared to antacids such as calcium carbonate and aluminum hydroxide.