A novel particulate composite hydrotalcite which offers antacidic effect comparable to that of a particulate hydrotalcite so far used as a gastric antacid and, further, offers excellent stomach inner wall protection effect. A particulate composite hydrotalcite represented by the following formula (1),
(MgaZnb)1-xAlx(OH)2(An−)x/n·mH2O (1)
wherein An− is CO32−, SO42− or Cl−, n is 1 or 2, and
x, a, b and m are values that satisfy the following conditions,
0.18≦x≦0.4, 0.5≦a<1, 0<b≦0.5, 0≦m≦1,
and a gastric antacid using the particulate composite hydrotalcite as an effective component. When used as a gastric antacid, the particulate composite hydrotalcite suppresses the occurrence of damage in the mucous membranes of stomach and intestines.