Example 4
Bifidobacterium breve M-16V (NITE BP-02622) is added to 3 mL of an MRS liquid medium and is anaerobically cultured at 37° C. for 16 hours, and the culture liquid is concentrated, followed by lyophilization, to obtain a lyophilized powder of the bacterium (bacterial powder). The bacterial powder and a prebiotic (lactulose, raffinose, and galactooligosaccharide) are uniformly mixed to obtain a composition. The composition is provided to elderly persons as a liquid food for the aged. The composition is daily provided at breakfast for one week such an amount that the intake of the Bifidobacterium breve M-16V (NITE BP-02622) is 1×1088 to 1×10110 CFU/kg body/day. When Bifidobacterium breve M-16V (NITE BP-02622) is killed cells, CFU/kg body/day can be replaced by (individual cells)/kg body/day. Note that the composition may be mixed with a food or drink, such as a fermented milk. By orally administering the composition, modulation of palatability, maintenance of body temperature, and protection of a blood vessel can be expected. Furthermore, the composition can be used for preventing or treating unbalanced diet, sensitivity to cold, hypothermia, myocardial infarction, ischemia-reperfusion injury, cardiac hypertrophy, diabetic cardiomyopathy, arteriosclerosis, or vascular plaque formation.
