Clinical Study Results: Nutrition 21’s Iceland Health(R) Chromax(R) Chromium Picolinate Reduces Hunger, Food Intake and Cravings

PURCHASE, N.Y., Sept. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Nutrition 21, Inc. , the developer and marketer of nutritional supplements under the Iceland Health(R) and Diabetes Essentials(R) brands, reported today that results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study published online in Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics showed that Nutrition 21’s Chromax(R) chromium picolinate significantly reduced hunger levels by 24%, food intake by 25%, and also reduced cravings for high-fat foods in adult non-diabetic overweight women. The study was conducted by researchers at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, the largest academically based nutrition research center in the world.

“Study subjects were allowed to eat any type and amount of food throughout the study. The participants who received chromium picolinate reduced their caloric intake by an average of 365 calories per day between their baseline and final (week 8) visit,” stated Dr. Steve Anton, investigator and lead author of the publication. “Not only are these results clinically significant, it is also noteworthy that participants receiving chromium picolinate did not report increased hunger levels despite significantly reducing their food intake.”

James Komorowski, M.S., vice president — technical services and scientific affairs for Nutrition 21, stated, “These results show that Chromax chromium picolinate can be useful for overweight individuals desiring to reduce their food intake. The published study also provides clinical substantiation for reduced hunger and reduced cravings claims for food and supplement manufacturing companies that use Chromax in their formulations.”

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 8-week study, entitled “Effects of Chromium Picolinate on Food Intake and Satiety,” was published online in Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics (http://www.liebertonline.com/dia), and is scheduled to be released in the October 2008 print issue of the journal. The study population comprised 42 overweight adult women who reported craving carbohydrates. Subjects were administered either Chromax chromium picolinate capsules (containing 1,000 mcg chromium) or matching placebo capsules for 8 weeks. Food intake was directly measured at the research center’s eating laboratory at baseline, after 1 week and again after 8 weeks.

Michael A. Zeher, president and chief executive officer of Nutrition 21, commented, “The results of this study provide substantial evidence of the efficacy of Chromax in decreasing hunger and high-fat cravings. We are pleased that a renowned research center the caliber of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, has completed independent research that validates the potential benefits of using Chromax on food intake and satiety levels. This new use can easily be incorporated within the framework of a sensible weight loss program. With a patent covering the use of chromium for reducing food cravings and appetite, Nutrition 21 is, again, in the right place, at the right time with safe and effective science-based products for our customers and consumers seeking solutions to their health care needs.”

About Pennington Biomedical Research Center

The Pennington Biomedical Research Center mission is to promote healthier lives through research and education in nutrition and preventive medicine. The Center is a campus of the Louisiana State University System and conducts basic, clinical and population research. The research enterprise at the Center includes 80 faculty and more than 40 post-doctoral fellows who comprise a network of 50 laboratories supported by lab technicians, nurses, dieticians, and support personnel, and 19 highly specialized core service facilities. The Center’s nearly 600 employees occupy several buildings on the 234-acre campus.

About Nutrition 21

Nutrition 21, Inc. , headquartered in Purchase, NY, is a nutritional bioscience company and the maker of chromium picolinate-based and omega-3 fish oil-based supplements with health benefits substantiated by clinical research. Nutrition 21 holds more than 30 patents for nutrition products and uses. Nutrition 21’s portfolio of health and wellness products include: Iceland Health Chromax(R), Iceland Health Life Advanced Memory Formula(TM), Diabetes Essentials(R), Iceland Health(R) Maximum Strength Omega-3 and Iceland Health(R) Joint Relief. The company also manufactures private label supplements and ingredients for third parties. Nutrition 21 distributes its products nationally through more than 29,000 major food, drug and super center stores throughout the United States and internationally. For more information please visit http://www.nutrition21.com/.

Safe Harbor Provision

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements. The words “believe,””expect,””anticipate” and other similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the Company’s current expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including without limitation: the effect of the expiration of patents; regulatory issues; uncertainty in the outcomes of clinical trials; changes in external market factors; changes in the Company’s business or growth strategy or an inability to execute its strategy due to changes in its industry or the economy generally; the emergence of new or growing competitors; various other competitive factors; and other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-K/A for the year ended June 30, 2007. Actual results could differ materially from the results referred to in the forward-looking statements. In light of these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the results referred to in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release will in fact occur. Additionally, the Company makes no commitment to disclose any revisions to forward-looking statements, or any facts, events or circumstances after the date hereof that may bear upon forward-looking statements.

   Company Contact:   James Komorowski   VP, Research & Development   914-701-4500    Investor Contact:   Lytham Partners, LLC   Joe Diaz, Joe Dorame, Robert Blum   602-889-9700  

Nutrition 21, Inc.

CONTACT: James Komorowski, VP, Research & Development of Nutrition 21,Inc., +1-914-701-4500; or Investors, Joe Diaz, Joe Dorame, Robert Blum, all ofLytham Partners, LLC, +1-602-889-9700, for Nutrition 21, Inc.

Web site: http://www.nutrition21.com/