A method for producing γ-aminobutyric acid includes cultivating, in a culture medium containing glutamic acid or a salt thereof, a probiotic composition including at least one lactic acid bacterial strain selected from the group consisting of Bifidobacterium breve CCFM1025 which is deposited at the Guangdong Microbial Culture Collection Center under an accession number GDMCC 60386, Lactobacillus acidophilus TYCA06, Lactobacillus plantarum LPL28, and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis BLI-02 which are deposited at the China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center respectively under accession numbers CGMCC 15210, CGMCC 17954, and CGMCC 15212, Lactobacillus salivarius subsp. salicinius AP-32 which is deposited at the China Center for Type Culture Collection under an accession number CCTCC M 2011127, and combinations thereof.

A storage stable frozen lactic acid bacteria (LAB) culture that comprises LAB that are that are able to utilize sucrose, has a weight of at least 50 g frozen material and a content of viable bacteria of at least 10.sup.9 colony forming units (CFU) per g frozen material.

A maternal milk powder and a preparation method thereof. Every 100 g of the maternal milk powder comprises: (0.1-10)×10.sup.8 CFU of probiotics, 1-10 g of FOS; wherein, probiotics comprise Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium animalis, and Bifidobacterium bifidum with a CFU ratio of 20-40:20-40:1-10:10-20:10-20:1-10. The maternal milk powder can effectively inhibit the proliferation of harmful bacteria in the intestinal tract of pregnant women, promote the health of intestinal microecology, improve immunity, relieve postpartum depression, etc. by adding six kinds of safe, stable and efficient probiotics and FOS.

Provided is a novel Lactobacillus acidophilus YTI strain (deposition number: KCCM 11808P); and a composition for preventing, alleviating, or treating menopause, comprising, as an active ingredient, Lactobacillus acidophilus comprising the novel strain.

Described herein is an edible coating for food products in which the coatings comprises a polysaccharide cross-linked with a cross-linking agent solution. Also described herein are methods for coating food products and forming clusters of food products. The use of the edible coating for extending the shelf-life of food products is also described.

Comestible products, for example beverage products, are disclosed containing encapsulated probiotic bacteria having resistance to subjection to at least thermal and acidic conditions. Beverage products include at least one aqueous liquid and capsules comprising a gelled mixture of alginate and denatured protein, and probiotic bacteria entrapped within the gelled mixture. The average particle size of the capsules is optionally less than 1000 microns (μm) in diameter, such as less than 500 μm in diameter. Methods are provided for making such encapsulated probiotics by providing a mixture comprising sodium alginate, denatured protein and active probiotic cells, and combining the mixture with a divalent cation to initiate cold gelation of the sodium alginate and denatured protein to form a second mixture. The second mixture is passed through an opening having a diameter of less than 1000 μm to form capsules. The weight ratio of protein to alginate is from 1:1 to 9:1.

The present invention relates to a composition exhibiting a bile-salt hydrolase activity for its use for the treatment or the prevention of giardiasis, said composition comprising a bile-salt hydrolase (BSH) enzyme, a bacterium able to secrete a BSH, a recombinant host cell able to secrete a BSH, or a combination thereof. The present invention also relates to the use of a composition exhibiting a BSH activity for the treatment or the prevention of giardiasis, and to a pharmaceutical composition or a food composition comprising, as an active principle, a BSH, a lactic acid bacterium able to secrete a BSH, or a recombinant host cell able to secrete a BSH.

A medicine, a food or a drink and feed which are effective for preventing and/or improving decline, occurring with age (senescence), in memory and learning ability are provided. A novel microorganism having the effect of preventing and/or improving decline, occurring with age (senescence,) in memory and learning ability is provided. More specifically, the microorganism is characterized by being a microorganism belonging to Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus, Leuconostoc or Pediococcus, more specifically a microorganism belonging to any of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus gallinarum, Lactobacillus johnsonii, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. delbrueckii, Bifidobacterium catenulatum, Bifidobacterium pseudolongum, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium longum, Streptococcus thermophiles, Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. dextranicum, Leuconostoc lactis, Pediococcus acidilactici and Pediococcus pentosaceus.

A multi-part nutritional supplement system supplies nutrients to a user at advantageous locations in the digestive tract. One type of dosage unit is formulated to release vitamin B12 in the stomach and intestines of the upper GI tract, advantageously in an amount that is greater than or at multiple levels of the DV (Daily Value) of vitamin B12.

The present invention relates to a composition exhibiting a bile-salt hydrolase activity for its use for the treatment or the prevention of giardiasis, said composition comprising a bile-salt hydrolase (BSH) enzyme, a bacterium able to secrete a BSH, a recombinant host cell able to secrete a BSH, or a combination thereof. The present invention also relates to the use of a composition exhibiting a BSH activity for the treatment or the prevention of giardiasis, and to a pharmaceutical composition or a food composition comprising, as an active principle, a BSH, a lactic acid bacterium able to secrete a BSH, or a recombinant host cell able to secrete a BSH.