The present invention relates to a composition for producing a fermented milk product showing a low degree of post-acidification during storage comprising ⋅ 1) a starter culture of lactic acid bacteria comprising at least one lactose-deficient Streptococcus thermophilus strain, which is capable of metabolizing a non-lactose carbohydrate, and at least one lactose-deficient Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus strain, which is capable of metabolizing the non-lactose carbohydrate, and ⋅ 2) a probiotic strain selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus strain and a Bifidobacterium strain.

The present invention relates to compositions comprising galactooligosaccharides (GOS) and probiotic bacteria obtained by a process comprising the step of growing the bacteria in a medium comprising GOS, such composition having the effect of boosting the synbiotic effect of the probiotic bacteria with the GOS. Health benefits of the probiotic bacteria as obtained by such a fermentation process are also contemplated.

An object of the present invention is to provide an agent for decomposing an opioid peptide or composition for decomposing an opioid peptide that does not restrict dietary habits, does not provide side reactions, even if it is daily used, and thus can be continuously used without any worries. The object is achieved by an agent for decomposing an opioid peptide or composition for decomposing an opioid peptide, pharmaceutical composition for decomposing an opioid peptide, or food or drink composition for decomposing an opioid peptide containing a Bifidobacterium bacterium, a culture of the bacterium, and/or a processed cell product of the bacterium as an active ingredient.

A vaginitis pathogen-inhibiting composition comprises a fermentate of lactic acid bacteria, which is generated by jointly fermenting a lactic acid bacteria strain and Streptococcus thermophilus in a medium containing at least one of milk, powdered milk, and casein. The lactic acid bacteria strain includes an AP-32 strain of Lactobacillus salivarius subsp. Salicinius; an F-1 strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus; a GL-165 strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus; a CP-9 strain of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis; a Bf-688 strain of Bifidobacterium bifidum; a Bv-889 strain of Bifidobacterium breve; or combinations thereof. The above-mentioned fermentate of the lactic acid bacteria strain can inhibit growth of vaginitis pathogens and may be in form of a food composition, a pharmaceutical composition, or a vagina-cleaning composition.

The invention is applicable within the food and pharmaceutical industry. More specifically, it relates to a novel strain of the species Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CECT 8145, the cell components, metabolites and secreted molecules thereof, which, incorporated into food and/or pharmaceutical formulations, can be used in the treatment and/or prevention of excess weight and obesity and related diseases such as metabolic syndrome, hypertension, glycemia, inflammation, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypercholesterolemia, hormonal alterations, infertility, etc.

The present invention is intended for the use of a probiotic composition comprising Bifidobacterium animalis subs. lactis (B. lactis), Bifidobacterium longum and Lactobacillus rhamnosus, in particular the strains B. lactis CECT 8145, B. longum ES1 CECT 7347 and/or L. rhamnosus CECT 8361, in the treatment and/or prevention of psoriasis outbreaks or psoriasis.

This invention relates to new uses of Bifidobacteria (particularly, although not exclusively, probiotic Bifidobacteria), and to food products, feed products, dietary supplements and pharmaceutical formulations containing them. The bacteria are suitable for the treatment of diabetes (particularly Type 2 diabetes), obesity and related conditions, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and impaired glucose metabolism and consequences thereof, lowering tissue inflammation, treating hepatitis, myositis and cardiovascular conditions.

The invention relates to a dry compositions for lactic acid bacteria and in particular to a dry composition comprising from 10.sup.9 to 10.sup.13 cfu/g of the composition of lactic acid bacteria cells, wherein the composition is characterized by that it also comprises following amounts of protective agents (all amounts of protective agents below are given relative to 1 g of lactic acid bacteria cells in the composition): from 6 to 9 g of trehalose, from 0.1 to 1 g of inulin and from 0.5 to 3 g of hydrolyzed casein, and by that it does not comprise a salt of alginic acid. The composition has an improved storage stability of the cell of interest. Comparison experiments have been made between compositions with and without alginate and it has been found that there is substantially no difference between compositions with or without alginate with regard to stability. Further, the invention relates to a method for preparing a dry lactic acid bacteria composition.

This invention relates to new uses of Bifidobacteria (particularly, although not exclusively, probiotic Bifidobacteria), and to food products, feed products, dietary supplements and pharmaceutical formulations containing them. The bacteria are suitable for the treatment of myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure.

Disclosed herein is a new strain of Bifidobacterium animalis AMT30 bacteria deposited by the number PCM B/00109 as well as composition for production of creams and ointments, parapharmaceutical, pharmaceutical, food preparations/products and food and water additives for humans and animals, consisting of the new strain of bacteria, medium and bulking agent distinguished by that the bacterial strain contains Lactobacillus plantarum AMT14, PCM B/00107 in amount of 10.sup.1 to 10.sup.13 of colony forming units cfu/ml-g. The composition may contain one or more strains of Lactobacillus plantarum bacteria