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To exert beneficial effects for the host, for example, improving the intestinal microflora, a probiotic must reach the intestine as a viable strain. These properties must be demonstrated by in vitro as well as in vivo methods. However, only a few well-designed human clinical studies have shown these properties. Lactobacillus johnsonii La1 has been shown to give many beneficial effects for the host, but it is unclear whether a viable strain of L. johnsonii La1 has the effect of improving host intestinal microflora. In the present study, a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over trial was conducted to elucidate the effect of L. johnsonii La1 on human intestinal microflora. Twenty-two young healthy Japanese women were randomly divided into two groups, and either received fermented milk with L. johnsonii La1 or a fermented milk without L. johnsonii La1 (placebo) daily for 21 d. Consumption of the fermented milk: (a) increased total Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, and decreased lecithinase-positive Clostridium in the faeces; (b) increased the faecal lactic acid concentrations; (c) decreased the faecal pH; (d) increased the defecation frequency. These changes were stronger than those observed with the placebo. L. johnsonii La1 was identified in all subjects only after the consumption of the fermented milk. These results suggest that L. johnsonii La1 can contribute to improve intestinal microflora with probiotic properties.

Probiotics have potential to improve host immunity; however, there is less evidence showing their efficacy against infections and nutritional status in the elderly. We conducted a double-blinded feeding trial in the elderly to elucidate the effect of fermented milk containing Lactobacillus johnsonii La1 (LC1 w ) on infections and nutritional status. Twenty-four completely enterally fed elderly in-patients aged over 70 years were randomly assigned into two groups. All subjects were administered 3768 kJ (900 kcal)/d of total enteral nutrition (EN) through tube feeding for 12 weeks. Subjects in the LC1 group were administered 373 kJ (89 kcal)/d of LC1 fermented milk after feeding of 3395 kJ (811 kcal)/d of EN for 12 weeks. In the control group, 373 kJ/d of the same EN was replaced from the fermented milk. In the LC1 group, the percentage of days with infections during the run-in observation period was 15·4 (SD 17·3) %, which significantly decreased to 5·7 (SD 8·1) % during the intervention period (P¼ 0·018), and the reduction was larger than that of the control group (P¼ 0·047). Blood Hb increased (P, 0·05), and there was a tendency towards an increase in serum albumin and a decrease in TNF-a (a pro-inflammatory cytokine) in the LC1 group. There was a trend towards an increase in blood phagocytic activity (a natural immunity marker) in the subjects whose initial level was low in the LC1 group. There were no changes in those parameters in the control group. Administration of fermented milk containing the probiotic L. johnsonii La1 may contribute to suppressing infections by improving nutritional and immunological status in the elderly.

Digestibility of mannooligosaccharides obtained from thermal hydrolysis of spent coffee grounds was examined by in vitro digestion method. Mannooligosaccharides were resistant to human salivary ␣-amylase, artificial gastric juice, porcine pancreatic enzymes and rat intestinal mucous enzymes. Fermentation products of mannooligosaccharides in human large intestine were estimated by in vitro fecal incubation method. Mannooligosaccharides were fermented by human fecal bacteria and the products of fermentation were short chain fatty acids. Acetic, propionic and n-butyric acids were the main short chain fatty acids as end fermentation products. These results suggest that mannooligosaccharides are indigestible saccharides and are converted to short chain fatty acids in human large intestine. The short chain fatty acids are thought to improve the large intestinal environment. Moreover, they are absorbed and utilized by the host as an energy source.

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Yogurt containing Bifidobacterium longum BB536 (designated as Bifidus yogurt) was administered to adult volunteers and its effects on the intestinal environment with reference to fecal microflora, ammonia levels , fecal characteristics (color, consistency) and defecation frequency were examined. Bifidus yogurt was manufactured by fermenting milk with B. longum BB536, Streptococcus thermophilus STH-450 and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp . bulgaricus LBU-108. Standard yogurt manufactured using only S. thermophilus STH-450 and L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus LBU-108 was used as the control diet. Eleven women volunteers were assigned as subjects to test the effects of Bifidus yogurt on the intestinal environment. Thirty-nine women volunteers were assigned as subjects to test the effects on fecal characteristics and defecation frequency. The volunteers were each administered 100 g of standard yogurt per day for two weeks. After a two-week interval period, each subject was administered 100 g of Bifidus yogurt per day for the subsequent test period. The period of administration of Bifidus yogurt was 2 weeks for testing effects on the intestinal environment and 3 weeks for testing effects on fecal characteristics and defecation frequency. The administration of Bifidus yogurt was effective to increase the number and relative percentage of fecal bifidobacteria significantly. The fecal ammonia concentration tended to decrease and fecal organic acid content tended to increase. The defecation frequency was significantly increased by Bifidus yogurt. The color of the feces changed to yellow and the consistency changed to soft. The administration of Bifidus yogurt was effective to improve the intestinal environment, fecal characteristics and defecation frequency.

The effects of spore-bearing lactic acid-forming bacteria (Bacillus coagulans SANK 70258) on intestinal ora and decomposition products in the intestine, as well as on various dermal characteristics were determined in healthy humans and rats. Improvement of fecal shape, change of fecal color from dark brown to yellowish brown, decrease of fecal odor and fecal pH and an increase in defecation frequency in persons whose defecation frequency was relatively low were observed after administration. The number of intestinal bi dobacteria signi cantly (p B0.05) increased, whereas the number of intestinal Clostridium perfringens signi cantly (p B 0.05) decreased after administration compared with the values before the intake. The concentrations of intestinal ammonia, indole and p-cresol decreased. The activities of b -glucuronidase and tryptophanase decreased signi cantly compared with the levels during the control period (p B 0.05). The spore-bearing lactic acid-forming bacilli group was given B. coagulans SANK 70258, while kept on a basic diet adjusted to 60% protein.Protein was supplied by casein. After removing back hair, the rats were exposed to radiation of UV-B 0.5 MED once a day. Two weeks after the start of radiation, measurements were made for the number of exanthema (the number of are and papula). The number of exanthema decreased as constipation alleviated as a result of the intake of B. coagulans SANK 70258. In experiment 2, improvement of fecal shape, change of fecal color from dark brown to yellowish brown, decrease of fecal odor, the fecal pH and increase in defecation frequency of persons whose frequency was relatively low were observed after administration. The number of intestinal bi dobacteria signi cantly (p B0.05) increased, whereas the number of intestinal C. perfringens signi cantly (pB 0.05) decreased after administration compared with the values before the intake. The concentrations of intestinal ammonia, indole and p -cresol content decreased. The activity of b-glucuronidase and tryptophanase decreased signi cantly (p B0.05) compared with the levels during the control period. The number of comedones decreased as constipation was alleviated as a result of the intake of B. coagulans SANK 70258. These results indicate that the administration of B. coagulans SANK 70258 improves the intestinal environment, defecation frequency, fecal characteristics and dermal characteristics.

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