PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a new lactic acid bacterium having excellent gastric acid resistance and bile acid resistance and further excellent characteristics in a cholesterol removing ability, a bile acid adsorbing ability and an interleukin 12 production-inducing ability in combination and to provide a lactic acid fermentation product and a food and drink comprising the lactic acid fermentation product obtained by using the lactic acid bacterium and affording effects of removing cholesterol, adsorbing bile acids, and promoting interluekin 12 production by ingestion thereof.SOLUTION: The lactic acid bacterium belongs to Lactobacillus plantarum having &ge90% gastric acid resistance, &ge90% bile acid resistance, &ge85% cholesterol removing ability, &ge40% bile acid adsorbing ability, and &ge80% interleukin 12 production-inducing ability when measured by a method specified herein. The lactic acid fermentation product and the food and drink comprising the lactic acid fermentation product are obtained by adding the lactic acid bacterium to soybean milk and subjecting the soybean milk to fermentation.COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT【課題】優れた胃酸耐性及び胆汁酸耐性を有し、かつ、コレステロール除去能、胆汁酸吸着能及びインターロイキン12産生誘導能における優れた特性を併せ持つ新規な乳酸菌、及び、この乳酸菌を用いて得られ、摂食することによりコレステロール除去、胆汁酸吸着及びインターロイキン12産生促進効果が得られる乳酸発酵物及び乳酸発酵物含有飲食品を提供する。【解決手段】本発明で規定する方法により測定した場合に、胃酸耐性が90%以上、胆汁酸耐性が90%以上、コレステロール除去能が85%以上、胆汁酸吸着能が40%以上、及びインターロイキン12産生誘導能が80%以上であることを特徴とする、ラクトバチルス・プランタラムに属する乳酸菌。豆乳に前記乳酸菌を添加し、発酵させることにより得られる乳酸発酵物及び乳酸発酵物含有飲食品。【選択図】図1
