THERE IS PROVIDED AN EQUOL-PRODUCING LACTIC ACID BACTERIA-CONTAINING COMPOSITION WHICH 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 FOR ALLEVIATING MEANS HAS HERETOFORE BEEN AVAILABLE. THIS EQUOL-PRODUCING LACTIC ACID BACTERIA-CONTAINING COMPOSITION COMPRISING, AS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT THEREOF, LACTIC ACID BACTERIA OF THE GENUS LACTOCOCCUS WHICH HAVE AN ABILITY TO UTILIZE AT LEAST ONE DAIDZEIN COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF DAIDZEIN GLYCOSIDE, DAIDZEIN, AND DIHYDRODAIDZEIN TO ELABORATE EQUOL.
