Antacid use in an ambulatory elderly population. A report from Dunedin Program.

Antacid use was studied in a population of 3192 elderly ambulatory subjects. Antacids were used by 18.6% of women and 12.9% of men. Three common antacid products accounted for 63.8% of all antacids used by these subjects. Serum phosphorus concentrations of participants using aluminum antacids were significantly lower than in a nonantacid user control group (P less than 0.02). Total protein and serum calcium concentrations of subjects using aluminum and magnesium combination antacid products were significantly lower than the control group (P less than 0.001 and P less than 0.04). Men using calcium carbonate antacids reported diarrhea significantly more frequently than control subjects.