Provided are a lactic acid bacterium for suppressing purine absorption, and a use for said bacterium. The present invention relates to: a method in which lactic acid bacteria are cultured in a solution including adenine, 5-phospho-D-ribose-1-diphosphoric acid, and Mg2+, and the conversion activity of adenine into adenylic acid obtained through said culturing is used as an index to screen lactic acid bacteria having an enhanced capacity for converting purine bases into purine nucleotides； an agent for converting purine bases into purine nucleotides, said agent including as an active ingredient the lactic acid bacteria obtained by the abovementioned method； and a use for said agent.
