This 14-day multicentre randomized, double-blind, doubledummy, non-inferiority trial was conducted to compare short-term efficacy of an alginate (Gaviscon®, 4 × 10 mL/day) and omeprazole (20 mg/day) on gastroesophageal (GERD) reflux symptoms. Subjects included 278 patients who experienced two to six day heartburn episodes weekly without alarm signals (120 and 121 in the Gaviscon® and omeprazole groups, respectively). The mean time to onset of the first 24-hour heartburn-free period after initial dosing was 2.0 (± 2.2) days for Gaviscon® and 2.0 (± 2.3) days for omeprazole (P = 0.93); mean intergroup difference was 0.01 ± 1.55 days (95% CI -0.41 to 0.43). The mean number of heartburn-free days by day seven (D7) was significantly greater in the omeprazole group: 3.7 ± 2.3 days vs. 3.1 ± 2.1 (P = 0.02). On D7, overall quality of pain relief was slightly in favor of omeprazole (P = 0.049). No significant differences were found in the reduction of pain intensity between groups by D7 or day 14 (D14). Tolerance and safety were good and comparable in both groups. Therefore, Gaviscon® is a relevant effective alternative treatment to omeprazole in moderate GERD. BMC Gastroenterol. 2012 Feb 23;12:18. PMID: 22361121
