An object of the present invention is to provide a novel composition which suppresses or improves depression. The present invention provides a composition for use in suppressing or improving depression, comprising Lactobacillus paracasei as an active ingredient. In the present invention, the depression can be a condition which occurs in daily life. The composition of the present invention can be provided as a food composition and a supplement, and can be provided to a human so that Lactobacillus paracasei is ingested in a daily amount of 1 mg or more in terms of dry cell mass or 10 to 10.sup.11 cells.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel composition which suppresses or improves depression. The present invention provides a composition for use in suppressing or improving depression, comprising Lactobacillus paracasei as an active ingredient. In the present invention, the depression can be a condition which occurs in daily life. The composition of the present invention can be provided as a food composition and a supplement, and can be provided to a human so that Lactobacillus paracasei is ingested in a daily amount of 1 mg or more in terms of dry cell mass or 10 to 10.sup.11 cells.

The present invention provides novel use of Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei K56 in alleviation of intestinal inflammation. Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei K56 of the present invention has the deposit number CGMCC 15139 or DSM 27447. It was discovered in the present invention that the strain alone was highly efficacious at alleviating intestinal inflammation, reducing inflammatory factors IL-6 and/or TNF-α, promoting the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10, and reducing the tissue damage of colitis.

The present invention provides novel use of Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei K56 in alleviation of intestinal inflammation. Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei K56 of the present invention has the deposit number CGMCC 15139 or DSM 27447. It was discovered in the present invention that the strain alone was highly efficacious at alleviating intestinal inflammation, reducing inflammatory factors IL-6 and/or TNF-α, promoting the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10, and reducing the tissue damage of colitis.

The invention relates to a tea-based beverage comprising probiotics, wherein the probiotics has a live probiotic cell count of ≥6.0 log CFU/ml. The invention further relates to a method of preparing the tea-based beverage having a live probiotic cell count of ≥6.0 log CFU/ml comprising the steps of: mixing tea infusion with sugar to form a mixture, inoculating probiotics to the mixture to form an inoculated mixture, fermenting the inoculated mixture for a pre-determined period of time to form the beverage. In one embodiment, the probiotics comprises Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus ermentum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus paracasei, Saccharomyces boulardii, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or a combination thereof.

The invention relates to a tea-based beverage comprising probiotics, wherein the probiotics has a live probiotic cell count of ≥6.0 log CFU/ml. The invention further relates to a method of preparing the tea-based beverage having a live probiotic cell count of ≥6.0 log CFU/ml comprising the steps of: mixing tea infusion with sugar to form a mixture, inoculating probiotics to the mixture to form an inoculated mixture, fermenting the inoculated mixture for a pre-determined period of time to form the beverage. In one embodiment, the probiotics comprises Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus ermentum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus paracasei, Saccharomyces boulardii, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or a combination thereof.

The present invention aims to provide an agent for preventing or ameliorating stress disorders, which agent is highly safe and effective, causes less side effects, and can be continuously used for a long time.

One embodiment of the present invention is an agent for preventing or ameliorating stress disorders comprising, as an active ingredient, a lactic acid bacterium Lactobacillus delbrueckii subspecies lactis or a lactic acid bacterium-derived ingredient therefrom.

The present invention aims to provide an agent for preventing or ameliorating stress disorders, which agent is highly safe and effective, causes less side effects, and can be continuously used for a long time.

One embodiment of the present invention is an agent for preventing or ameliorating stress disorders comprising, as an active ingredient, a lactic acid bacterium Lactobacillus delbrueckii subspecies lactis or a lactic acid bacterium-derived ingredient therefrom.

The probiotic composition comprises at least one lactic acid bacteria strain, preferably Lactobacillus with intestinal tropism, for use in promoting juvenile growth in livestock, with stimulation of linear growth and/or of IGF-1 level. Exemplary lactic acid bacteria include Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus paracasei and Lactobacillus rhamnosus. The strains can be selected in a mouse model. The invention also relates to a probiotic treatment method using this composition.

The probiotic composition comprises at least one lactic acid bacteria strain, preferably Lactobacillus with intestinal tropism, for use in promoting juvenile growth in livestock, with stimulation of linear growth and/or of IGF-1 level. Exemplary lactic acid bacteria include Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus paracasei and Lactobacillus rhamnosus. The strains can be selected in a mouse model. The invention also relates to a probiotic treatment method using this composition.