Effect of Intake of Immune Milk Product on the Fecal Microflora in Healthy Female Volunteers

Immune Milk Product (40% WPI Plus, Whey Protein Isolate Plus) was administered tohealthy female volunteers and the effects on the intestinal environment and defecation frequency were examined. A non-Immune Milk Product was used as the control in the experiments. For the investigation of defecation frequency and fecal properties, 60 volunteers were assigned to two groups (30 volunteers each). One group consumed 20 g of Immune Milk Product daily followed by the control period. The other group consumed 20 g of Immune Milk Product daily after the control period. Both test period and control period were 3 weeks. Ten volunteers of each group were assigned for the test of intestinal environment. The fecal bacterial flora, fecal pH, water content, and fecal ammonia content were examined. Immune Milk Product did not alter the fecal ammonia content. The percentage of Bifidobacterium in the fecal flora was increased by the intake of Immune Milk Product. The number of Clostridium perfringens (lecithinase-positive) was slightly decreased by the intake of Immune Milk Product after 3 weeks. The defecation frequency was significantly increased by the intake of Immune Milk Product. These results suggest that the intake of Immune Milk Productis effective for improving the intestinal environment, fecal properties, and defecation frequency.