Abstract: Provided is 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. 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: An accelerating agent for elimination of dioxins which comprises, as an active ingredient, a microorganism having an activity of accelerating elimination of dioxins in the body to the outside of the body.

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: 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: The present invention provides an agent for preventing or suppressing hepatic dysfunction which may be taken daily and continuously, has excellent safety, and is capable of effectively preventing and/or suppressing hepatic dysfunction, such as hepatocellular necrosis, and functional food, such as foods for specified health uses, for preventing or suppressing hepatic dysfunction containing this agent. The agent for preventing or suppressing hepatic dysfunction of the present invention contains whey as the active component, and the functional food for preventing or suppressing hepatic dysfunction contains the agent for preventing or suppressing hepatic dysfunction.

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: The present invention provides functional food and beverage that produce a skin moisturizing effect through oral intake, that is excellently safe, and that may be taken regularly. The invention also provides a skin moisturizer for oral intake to be used in the functional food and beverage, as well as use thereof. The present skin moisturizer for oral intake contains as an active component fermented milk whey obtained by fermentation of milk with Lactobacillus helveticus, and the present functional food and beverage contains the skin moisturizer and has a skin moisturizing effect.

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: Disclosed is a method for producing an estrogen-like active intermediate (e.g., secoisolariciresinol) by culturing a lignan (e.g., a lignan derived from Eucommia ulmoides) together with a bacterium Lactobacillus acidophilus. Also disclosed a prophylactic/ameliorating agent for menopausal disorder and a functional beverage/food for preventing/ameliorating menopausal disorder comprising a lignan cultured together with a bacterium Lactobacillus acidophilus as an active ingredient.

Abstract: The invention provides agents for phase-adjusting or enhancing the amplitude of an endogenous melatonin secretion rhythm and for improving a circadian rhythm, which may be taken daily and continuously, have excellent safety, and may effectively prevent or ameliorate disorders of an endogenous melatonin secretion rhythm or of a circadian rhythm without administration of exogenous melatonin, 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 for phase-adjusting or enhancing the amplitude of an endogenous melatonin secretion rhythm according to the invention contains whey as the active component. The functional food for improving an endogenous melatonin secretion rhythm according to the invention contains the agent for phase-adjusting or enhancing the amplitude of an endogenous melatonin secretion rhythm.

Abstract: The present invention provides an agent for preventing or suppressing hepatic dysfunction which may be taken daily and continuously, has excellent safety, and is capable of effectively preventing and/or suppressing hepatic dysfunction, such as hepatocellular necrosis, and functional food, such as foods for specified health uses, for preventing or suppressing hepatic dysfunction containing this agent. The agent for preventing or suppressing hepatic dysfunction of the present invention contains whey as the active component, and the functional food for preventing or suppressing hepatic dysfunction contains the agent for preventing or suppressing hepatic dysfunction.

Abstract: The present invention provides an agent for preventing or suppressing hepatic dysfunction which may be taken daily and continuously, has excellent safety, and is capable of effectively preventing and/or suppressing hepatic dysfunction, such as hepatocellular necrosis, and functional food, such as foods for specified health uses, for preventing or suppressing hepatic dysfunction containing this agent. The agent for preventing or suppressing hepatic dysfunction of the present invention contains whey as the active component, and the functional food for preventing or suppressing hepatic dysfunction contains the agent for preventing or suppressing hepatic dysfunction.

Abstract: The invention provides agents for phase-adjusting or enhancing the amplitude of an endogenous melatonin secretion rhythm and for improving a circadian rhythm, which may be taken daily and continuously, have excellent safety, and may effectively prevent or ameliorate disorders of an endogenous melatonin secretion rhythm or of a circadian rhythm without administration of exogenous melatonin, 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 for phase-adjusting or enhancing the amplitude of an endogenous melatonin secretion rhythm according to the invention contains whey as the active component. The functional food for improving an endogenous melatonin secretion rhythm according to the invention contains the agent for phase-adjusting or enhancing the amplitude of an endogenous melatonin secretion rhythm.

Abstract: The present invention provides functional food and beverage that produce a skin moisturizing effect through oral intake, that is excellently safe, and that may be taken regularly. The invention also provides a skin moisturizer for oral intake to be used in the functional food and beverage, as well as use thereof. The present skin moisturizer for oral intake contains as an active component fermented milk whey obtained by fermentation of milk with Lactobacillus helveticus, and the present functional food and beverage contains the skin moisturizer and has a skin moisturizing effect.

Abstract: An accelerating agent for elimination of dioxins which comprises, as an active ingredient, a microorganism having an activity of accelerating elimination of dioxins in the body to the outside of the body.

Abstract: An anti-stress agent and functional food containing the anti-stress agent and having an anti-stress effect, which contain as an effective ingredient fermented sour milk prepared by, for example, fermenting animal milk starting material with lactic acid bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus, which can be taken repeatedly and daily without any problems with safety, and which can mitigate and prevent mental and physical symptoms caused by stress.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for reducing stress comprising administering an anti-stress agent winch can be administered repeatedly and daily without any problems with safety, and which can mitigate and prevent mental and physical symptoms cause by stress. The anti-stress gent comprises as an effective ingredient a tripeptide, particularly Ile-Pro-Pro and/or Val-Pro-Pro and/or a salt thereof, having angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory activity.

Abstract: A physiologically functional food having brain function-improving, learning ability-enhancing and memory-enhancing functions, which comprises as an active ingredient a lactic acid bacterium fermented milk, a lactic acid bacterium and yeast co-fermented milk, or a treated product thereof, or a mixture thereof, optionally also including a pharmaceutically or nutritionally acceptable carrier or diluent.