Marketing Manager at SynBalance
At Vitafoods, we sat down with Silva Castegnaro, Marketing Manager at SynBalance, to explore how the company is pushing the boundaries of probiotic research and innovation. With an expanding portfolio that spans skin health and beauty, women’s health, metabolic balance, cognitive wellbeing and healthy ageing, SynBalance is reshaping what biotics-based solutions can offer.
“It’s no longer just about probiotics,” said Castegnaro. “There is a wider interest in everything surrounding them; we are now talking about biotics, and the powerful synergy between them.”
This holistic mindset is most evident in SynBalance’s work on longevity, a concept that they interpret as a cross-disciplinary goal encompassing not only ageing, but also skin health, metabolic resilience and cognitive vitality. “Longevity is a target that stretches across multiple areas,” she explained. “We aim to support the transition into elder stages in the best way possible, but that’s just one part of it. Metabolic health and beauty from within are leading the way, closely followed by innovative applications in women’s health — such as premenstrual syndrome, HPV infections, and more.
One standout in this field is SynbÆctive® ProBeautyShield, a probiotic formula designed for skin health and beauty, now undergoing its fourth clinical trial. It has shown measurable effects on skin hydration, brightness, and wrinkle reduction. According to Castegnaro, “It’s very impressive how a food supplement can deliver both inner and outer results. The most rewarding outcome was that participants actually perceived themselves in a better way.”
Beyond skin benefits, SynBalance is investigating cellular ageing at the core. In a preclinical study with C. elegans, which shares around 40% of its genome with humans, the company has started to unveil how their probiotic strains may influence motility, antioxidant activity, and ultimately, the lifespan. “In vitro studies don’t provide the full picture,” said Castegnaro. “C. elegans gives us a wider observatory of ageing mechanisms and opens up fast, meaningful insight.”
A similar approach is shaping their research into the gut-brain axis. With SynbÆctive® KeepCalm, SynBalance investigated not just the probiotic strains themselves, but the metabolites they produce. “We used brain organoids and found that the synergies of L. reuteri PBS072 and B. breve BB077 metabolites stimulated axon growth. Since neurons don’t replicate, strengthening their connections is essential, especially as we age.”
SynBalance portfolio also includes postbiotics in form of inactivated bacteria: the SynbiOFF® line has been updated this year with the introduction of a new inactivated strain, L. paracasei LPC 1114. “These strains offer the advantage of compatibility with other actives normally avoided with alive bacteria. We are targeting applications in skin, gastrointestinal, and urogenital health. Future studies will further expand the range, with a focus on immunity, oral care, and beyond.”
Rounding out this ecosystem is SynBalance’s YouFirst capsule collection, a series of ready-to-market product prototypes. This year’s edition, inspired by the “Seven Wonders of Nature,” is fully dedicated to the concept of longevity. “Our aim is to create a synergy and a tribute to the strength, magnificence, and timeless essence of nature, connecting its elements to our ingredients to inspire your journey toward a healthier and longer life” said Castegnaro. With a clear vision and clinically driven development, SynBalance is proving that the future of probiotics lies in personalized, multi-dimensional, and evidence-based health strategies. As Castegnaro put it: “It’s not just innovation for innovation’s sake. We’re designing real solutions that meet real needs, and that’s where science becomes impactful.”
