Disclosed is a bacterium belonging to the genus which shows an excellent survival ability in the digestive tract, has an effect of inhibiting the cholesterol absorption in the intestinal tract, is excellent in lipid metabolism-ameliorating effects (e.g., an effect of decreasing the blood cholesterol level) and shows a high survival rate after storage. Also disclosed is a cholesterol absorption inhibitor using the bacterium. The cholesterol absorption inhibitor comprises, as an active ingredient, at least one microorganism selected from YIT 10394, JCM 1253, JCM 7117 and .
