The invention provides methods for mimicking chronic caloric restriction to impart a health benefit in an animal or for using an intermittent partially restricted diet to impart a health benefit to an animal. Such methods can include feeding an animal two different diets having differing caloric contents in a specific ratio to achieve such benefits.

An object of the present invention is to provide a senescence retarding agent that delays the onset of senescence symptoms and extends longevity, and is superior in safety. The senescence retarding agent of the present invention that achieves the object is characterized by containing a plant fermentation product as an active ingredient, the plant fermentation product being a mixture of the following: (a) a koji mold-fermented product of one or more kinds of beans and/or cereals selected from the group consisting of barley, black soybean, red rice, black rice, adzuki bean, adlay, Japanese millet, foxtail millet, and millet; (b) a yeast- and/or lactic acid bacterium-fermented product of one or more kinds of fruits selected from the group consisting of mikan (mandarin orange), grape, apple, yama-budo (crimson glory grape), peach, kaki (Japanese persimmon), papaya, nashi (Japanese pear), watermelon, ume (Japanese apricot), fig, karin (Chinese quince), pumpkin, kumquat, yuzu (Chinese lemon), loquat, apricot, jujube, chestnut, matatabi (silvervine), and sumomo (Japanese plum); (c) a yeast- and/or lactic acid bacterium-fermented product of one or more kinds of root crops and/or potatoes selected from the group consisting of murasaki-imo (purple sweet potato), kikuimo (Jerusalem artichoke), carrot, onion, satsuma-imo (sweet potato), satoimo (taro), jinenzyo (Japanese yam), daikon (Japanese radish), akakabu (red turnip), gobo (burdock root), renkon (lotus root), yacon, yuri-ne (lily bulb), kuwai (arrowhead), ginger, garlic, and turmeric; (d) a yeast- and/or lactic acid bacterium-fermented product of one or more kinds of flowers and/or leaf vegetables selected from the group consisting of cabbage, shiso (perilla), mulberry leaves, dokudami (Korean houttuynia), yomogi (wormwood), kumazasa (kuma bamboo grass), and dandelion; (e) a yeast- and/or lactic acid bacterium-fermented product of one or more kinds of seaweeds selected from the group consisting of kombu (sea tangle), wakame (Undaria pinnatifida), and mozuku (Nemacystus decipiens); (f) a yeast- and/or lactic acid bacterium-fermented product of one or more kinds of seeds selected from the group consisting of black sesame seeds, walnuts, and ginkgo nuts; and (g) a yeast- and/or lactic acid bacterium-fermented product of one or two kinds of mushrooms selected from the group consisting of maitake (Grifola frondosa) and shiitake (Lentinus edodes).

An object of the present invention is to provide a senescence retarding agent that delays the onset of senescence symptoms and extends longevity, and is superior in safety. The senescence retarding agent of the present invention that achieves the object is characterized by containing a plant fermentation product as an active ingredient, the plant fermentation product being a mixture of the following: (a) a koji mold-fermented product of one or more kinds of beans and/or cereals selected from the group consisting of barley, black soybean, red rice, black rice, adzuki bean, adlay, Japanese millet, foxtail millet, and millet; (b) a yeast- and/or lactic acid bacterium-fermented product of one or more kinds of fruits selected from the group consisting of mikan (mandarin orange), grape, apple, yama-budo (crimson glory grape), peach, kaki (Japanese persimmon), papaya, nashi (Japanese pear), watermelon, ume (Japanese apricot), fig, karin (Chinese quince), pumpkin, kumquat, yuzu (Chinese lemon), loquat, apricot, jujube, chestnut, matatabi (silvervine), and sumomo (Japanese plum); (c) a yeast- and/or lactic acid bacterium-fermented product of one or more kinds of root crops and/or potatoes selected from the group consisting of murasaki-imo (purple sweet potato), kikuimo (Jerusalem artichoke), carrot, onion, satsuma-imo (sweet potato), satoimo (taro), jinenzyo (Japanese yam), daikon (Japanese radish), akakabu (red turnip), gobo (burdock root), renkon (lotus root), yacon, yuri-ne (lily bulb), kuwai (arrowhead), ginger, garlic, and turmeric; (d) a yeast- and/or lactic acid bacterium-fermented product of one or more kinds of flowers and/or leaf vegetables selected from the group consisting of cabbage, shiso (perilla), mulberry leaves, dokudami (Korean houttuynia), yomogi (wormwood), kumazasa (kuma bamboo grass), and dandelion; (e) a yeast- and/or lactic acid bacterium-fermented product of one or more kinds of seaweeds selected from the group consisting of kombu (sea tangle), wakame (Undaria pinnatifida), and mozuku (Nemacystus decipiens); (f) a yeast- and/or lactic acid bacterium-fermented product of one or more kinds of seeds selected from the group consisting of black sesame seeds, walnuts, and ginkgo nuts; and (g) a yeast- and/or lactic acid bacterium-fermented product of one or two kinds of mushrooms selected from the group consisting of maitake (Grifola frondosa) and shiitake (Lentinus edodes).

A method of improving metabolic health in a mammalian subject in need of improvement in metabolic health includes reducing the mammalian subject's consumption of branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) by the mammalian subject consuming a reduced BCAA daily diet. Also included is a method of reducing a mammalian subject's consumption of BCAAs by the mammalian subject consuming a reduced BCAA meal replacement at least once per day. Also included is a method of feeding a mammalian subject in need of weight reduction by the mammalian subject consuming a low protein daily diet supplemented with leucine. Also included is a method of improving metabolic health in a mammalian subject in need of improvement in metabolic health by reducing the mammalian subject's consumption either histidine alone or of both phenylalanine and tyrosine by the mammalian subject consuming a reduced amino acid daily diet.

A method of improving metabolic health in a mammalian subject in need of improvement in metabolic health includes reducing the mammalian subject's consumption of branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) by the mammalian subject consuming a reduced BCAA daily diet. Also included is a method of reducing a mammalian subject's consumption of BCAAs by the mammalian subject consuming a reduced BCAA meal replacement at least once per day. Also included is a method of feeding a mammalian subject in need of weight reduction by the mammalian subject consuming a low protein daily diet supplemented with leucine. Also included is a method of improving metabolic health in a mammalian subject in need of improvement in metabolic health by reducing the mammalian subject's consumption either histidine alone or of both phenylalanine and tyrosine by the mammalian subject consuming a reduced amino acid daily diet.

The present invention relates to the induction of tolerance to antigens, by mucosal, preferably oral delivery of the antigen in combination with an immunomodulating compound producing micro-organism. More specifically, the invention relates to the induction of Foxp3.sup.+ and/or IL-10 and/or TGF- producing regulatory T-cells, capable of suppressing undesired immune responses toward an antigen, by oral delivery of said antigen in combination with an immunosuppressing cytokine secreting micro-organism.

The present invention relates to the induction of tolerance to antigens, by mucosal, preferably oral delivery of the antigen in combination with an immunomodulating compound producing micro-organism. More specifically, the invention relates to the induction of Foxp3.sup.+ and/or IL-10 and/or TGF- producing regulatory T-cells, capable of suppressing undesired immune responses toward an antigen, by oral delivery of said antigen in combination with an immunosuppressing cytokine secreting micro-organism.

Disclosed is the use of copper-calcium sulphate as an animal feed additive. When used in animal breeding, a low dose of copper-calcium sulphate can achieve a growth promoting effect of a high dosage of copper sulphate, and thus can be used as an animal basic nutritional supplement to substitute low-copper preparations in the breeding of poultry, livestock or aquatic animals. Copper-calcium sulphate, used as a novel, efficient and safe feed additive in the feed processing industry and animal breeding industry, can reduce the dosage of copper ion by nearly 50-70% while maintaining the production, significantly reducing use of copper in husbandry so as to reduce the cost, the poisonous effects and the pollution, making it a promising copper compound.

A bacteria referred to here as Bacillus subtilis 6A-1 is provided, compositions thereof and processes for use of the bacteria, spores, cells, extracts and enzymes. The compositions which comprise the bacteria, spores, cells, extracts and/or enzymes are capable of degrading polysaccharides. Such compositions are capable of degrading cellulose, including plant-produced cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose. The bacteria produces at least two cellulose-degrading protein fractions. Cellulose degrading activity continues across pH2 to pH13.

A bacteria referred to here as Bacillus subtilis 6A-1 is provided, compositions thereof and processes for use of the bacteria, spores, cells, extracts and enzymes. The compositions which comprise the bacteria, spores, cells, extracts and/or enzymes are capable of degrading polysaccharides. Such compositions are capable of degrading cellulose, including plant-produced cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose. The bacteria produces at least two cellulose-degrading protein fractions. Cellulose degrading activity continues across pH2 to pH13.