Abstract: An agent for reducing risk in onset of diseases ascribable to non-dipping circadian profile of blood pressure is provided. This agent is capable of effectively lowering SBP from night to early morning in individuals with non-dipping circadian profile of blood pressure, in particular, normal individuals with normal SBP and DBP among them, and is thus capable of reducing risk in onset, particularly likely in the morning, of diseases caused by circadian variation of blood pressure. The agent is intended for administration to such subjects, and contains a hydrolysate or a concentrate thereof, containing Val-Pro-Pro and Ile-Pro-Pro and obtained by hydrolysis of animal milk protein.

Abstract: This invention provides an effective means or method for improving lipid metabolism, and a means or method for treatment or prevention of diseases or disorders associated with the lipid metabolism disorder. Specifically, this invention relates to an agent for improving the lipid metabolism comprising, as active ingredients, broken cells of a lactic acid bacterium, and to a method for enhancing an effect of a lactic acid bacterium for improving the lipid metabolism comprising a step of breaking the lactic acid bacterium.

Abstract: There is provided a rheumatoid arthritis inhibitor for oral intake that has an inhibitory effect on rheumatoid arthritis and is excellent in safety. The rheumatoid arthritis inhibitor for oral intake of the present invention contains, as an active component, a casein hydrolysate containing free amino acids and peptides obtained by hydrolyzing animal milk casein to have an average chain length of not longer than 2.1 in terms of the number of amino acid residues, or a mixture of free amino acids and peptides contained in the hydrolysate.

Abstract: Methods for lowering serum triglycerides use pharmaceutical agents and food products that have no side effects, are easy to ingest continuously, and have a serum triglyceride-lowering effect are provided. The pharmaceutical agents and food products are lipid metabolism-ameliorating agents and serum triglyceride-lowering agents, which include as an active ingredient a culture of a bacterium belonging to the genus Bacillus. The bacterium belongs to the genus Bacillus is preferably Bacillus subtilis, and more preferably Bacillus subtilis C-3102 (FERM BP-1096). The lipid metabolism-ameliorating agent and the serum triglyceride-lowering agent are useful for treating and preventing diseases such as arteriosclerosis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition which may be ingested orally in a small dose for the purpose of improving brain function, and a method for improving brain function. The present invention is a composition for improving brain function, the composition comprising, as an active ingredient, Xaa-Pro-Pro (wherein Xaa represents Ile, Leu or Ser).

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition which may be ingested orally in a small dose for the purpose of improving brain function, and a method for improving brain function. The present invention is a composition for improving brain function, comprising, as an active ingredient, X-Val-Arg-Gly-Pro-Phe-Pro-Ile-Ile-Val (SEQ ID NO: 5), wherein X is absent or represents Pro.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition which may be ingested orally in a small dose for the purpose of improving brain function, and a method for improving brain function. The present invention is a composition for improving brain function, the composition comprising, as an active ingredient, X-Met-His-Gln-Pro-His-Gln-Pro-Leu-Pro-Pro-Thr-Val-Met-Phe-Pro-Pro-Gln-Ser-Val-Leu (SEQ ID NO: 6) or a salt thereof, wherein X is absent or represents Ser-Trp or Leu-Gln-Ser-Trp (SEQ ID NO: 7).

Abstract: The present invention provides Lactobacillus bacteria which enhance the functional of Peyer's patch and promote IgA production and which have a characteristics of localizing on human intestine as well as an agent for promoting IgA production. The present invention is directed to an agent for promoting IgA production containing Lactobacillus amylovorus cells, especially Lactobacillus amylovorus CP1750 (FERM BP-10532) as an active ingredient.

Abstract: A method for improving glomerular filtration rate includes administering to a subject in need thereof an agent containing a culture of a bacterium belonging to the genus Bacillus. A method for ameliorating renal failure includes administering to a subject in need thereof an agent with a serum creatinine-lowering effect containing as an active ingredient a culture of a genus Bacillus bacterium. A method for improving glomerular filtration rate or ameliorating renal failure includes administering to a subject in need thereof an agent containing spores of a bacterium belonging to the genus Bacillus.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting guaiacol-producing bacteria in a specimen comprising culturing the specimen or a dilution thereof on a plate of a solid medium for acidophilic bacteria comprising a compound represented by the following formula, wherein R is —H, —OH, —C(O)H, —C(O)CH3, —COOH, C1-C3 alkyl or C1-C3 alkenyl, wherein alkyl and alkenyl may optionally be substituted by —OH, —C(O)H or —COOH); and detecting a colony formed on the solid medium. According to preferred embodiments, the solid medium for acidophilic bacteria comprises 50 ppm or more of vanillic acid and the plate culture is carried out at 20° C. to 55° C. The present invention also provides a solid medium for acidophilic bacteria and a kit for detection of guaiacol-producing bacteria in a specimen. According to the present invention, guaiacol-producing bacteria present in a specimen such as fruit juice raw materials can be detected rapidly in a simple manner.

Abstract: An agent for reducing risk in onset of diseases ascribable to non-dipping circadian profile of blood pressure is provided. This agent is capable of effectively lowering SBP from night to early morning in individuals with non-dipping circadian profile of blood pressure, in particular, normal individuals with normal SBP and DBP among them, and is thus capable of reducing risk in onset, particularly likely in the morning, of diseases caused by circadian variation of blood pressure. The agent is intended for administration to such subjects, and contains a hydrolysate or a concentrate thereof, containing Val-Pro-Pro and Ile-Pro-Pro and obtained by hydrolysis of animal milk protein. Reduction of risk may be expected in onset, particularly likely in the morning, of various diseases caused by risk of circadian variation of blood pressure, such as cerebral infarction, myocardial infarction,myocardialischemia, atherosclerosis, cardiac failure, cerebral stroke, coronary artery diseases, and peripheral vascular diseases.

Abstract: A beverage composition is disclosed that comprises a mixture of a protein hydrolysate and vitamin B2, and also contains an amount of ascorbic acid sufficient to prevent the generation of an off-flavor when the mixture is exposed to light. The off-flavor generated upon exposure to light can be reduced in accordance with the beverage composition of the present invention. Also disclosed is a method for preventing an off-flavor in a beverage composition containing a protein hydrolysate and vitamin B2, and a process for producing a beverage composition containing a protein hydrolysate and vitamin B2. Furthermore, an agent for preventing an off-flavor in a beverage composition containing a protein hydrolysate and vitamin B2, wherein the agent comprises ascorbic acid as an active ingredient is disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided an agent having at least one of an improving effect on vascular endothelial functions and an inhibitory effect on vascular intimal thickening, as well as a prophylactic of arteriosclerosis, which have excellent safety, improve functions associated with the vascular endothelium, have effects of preventing various diseases associated with vascular endothelial functions and of inhibiting vascular intimal thickening, and may be expected to provide prophylactic effect on arteriosclerosis or the like. The agents of the present invention contain, as an active component: (a) Xaa-Pro-Pro, (b) a hydrolysate of animal milk casein containing Xaa-Pro-Pro, or a concentrate thereof, or (c) a fermentation product containing Ile-Pro-Pro and/or Val-Pro-Pro obtained by fermenting a starting material containing milk protein with a bacterial strain of the species Lactobacillus helveticus.

Abstract: The invention provides functional food and beverage that produce, through oral intake, a promotive effect on normal epidermal keratinization, and an epidermal differentiation and keratinization promoter for use in such functional food and beverage. The epidermal differentiation and keratinization promoter of the present invention contains, as an active component, fermented milk whey obtained by fermentation of milk with bacteria including lactic acid bacteria, such as Latobacillus helveticus. The functional food and beverage for promoting epidermal keratinization of the present invention contains the epidermal differentiation and keratinization promoter.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an effective means and method for activating vagal afferent nerve. The present invention provides a vagus nerve activator comprising bacterial cells and/or a treated product of a lactic acid bacteria as active ingredient(s).

Abstract: Disclosed are agents for phase-adjusting or enhancing the amplitude of an endogenous melatonin secretion rhythm and for improving a circadian rhythm, as well as functional food containing such an agent, which may prevent or ameliorate various symptoms, such as sleep disorder or prolonged sleep latency. The agent contains whey as the active component.

Abstract: There is provided a vasodilator having an endothelium-dependent vasodilator effect, a prophylactic of arteriosclerosis, and functional food having an endothelium-dependent vasodilator effect, which is suitable for daily and regular intake and excellent in safety. The vasodilator and the functional food according to the present invention are characterized in at least one of the tripeptides Val-Pro-Pro and Ile-Pro-Pro, or a proteolytic product containing Val-Pro-Pro and/or Ile-Pro-Pro, contained as an active component.

Abstract: There is provided a rheumatoid arthritis inhibitor for oral intake that has an inhibitory effect on rheumatoid arthritis and is excellent in safety. The rheumatoid arthritis inhibitor for oral intake of the present invention contains, as an active component, a casein hydrolysate containing free amino acids and peptides obtained by hydrolyzing animal milk casein to have an average chain length of not longer than 2.1 in terms of the number of amino acid residues, or a mixture of free amino acids and peptides contained in the hydrolysate.

Abstract: The present invention provides an antiallergic agent containing, as an active ingredient, lactic acid bacteria selected from the group consisting of lactic acid bacteria of the species Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus fermentum, and combinations thereof. The antiallergic agent is capable of improving allergic diathesis by reducing the IgE level, which is contributive to development of Type I allergy, and is easy to take and highly safe. The present invention also provides use of the antiallergic agent for reducing allergy, and a method for reducing allergy using the antiallergic agent.