Equol-producing lactic acid bacteria-containing composition

Abstract

An equol-producing lactic acid bacteria-containing composition comprises, as an essential component thereof, a lactic acid bacterial strain belonging to the genus Lactococcus having an ability to utilize at least one daidzein compound selected from the group consisting of daidzein glycosides, daidzein, and dihydrodaidzein to produce equol. Such a composition is effective for the prevention and alleviation of malaise inclusive of climacteric disturbance in middle-aged and elderly women for which no effective prophylactic method or alleviating means has heretofore been available.

1 . An equol-producing lactic acid bacteria-containing composition comprising, as an essential component thereof, a lactic acid bacterial strain belonging to the genus  Lactococcus  having an ability to utilize at least one daidzein compound selected from the group consisting of daidzein glycosides, daidzein, and dihydrodaidzein to produce equol. 
     
     
         2 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said lactic acid bacterial strain belonging to the genus  Lactococcus  is  Lactococcus garvieae.    
     
     
         3 . The composition according to  claim 2 , wherein said lactic acid bacterial strain belonging to  Lactococcus  is  Lactococcus  20-92 deposited under FERM BP-10036. 
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of daidzein compounds and daidzein compound-containing ingredients. 
     
     
         5 . The composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the daidzein compound-containing ingredient is soybean flour or soy milk 
     
     
         6 . The composition according to  claim 4  which is in the form of a beverage or a milk product. 
     
     
         7 . The composition according to  claim 4  further comprising equol. 
     
     
         8 . The composition according to  claim 7  which is in the form of a fermentation product of soy milk. 
     
     
         9 . A method of producing equil comprising the step of letting a lactic acid bacterial strain belonging to the genus  Lactococcus  having an ability to utilize a daidzein compound to produce equol act on at least one member selected from the group consisting of daidzein compounds and daidzein compound-containing ingredients. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein said lactic acid bacterial strain belonging to the genus  Lactococcus  is  Lactococcus garvieae.    
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein said lactic acid bacterial strain belonging to the genus  Lactococcus  is  Lactococcus  20-92 deposited under FERM BP-10036. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the daidzein compound-containing ingredient is soybean flour or soy milk. 
     
     
         13 . A lactic acid bacterial strain belonging to the genus  Lactococcus  as deposited under FERM BP-10036.