NUTRITION 21 RECEIVES $1 MILLION FOR RELEASE OF
CERTAIN CONTINGENT ROYALTY AND OTHER PAYMENTS

      Purchase, N.Y., November 17, 2004 – Nutrition 21, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXXI) today announced that it has received a $1 million payment from ImmuCell Corporation of Portland, Maine.  ImmuCell is a licensee for certain aspects of the Company’s patented nisin technology. In consideration of the $1 million payment, the Company waived its right to receive potential milestone and royalty payments for a majority of the animal health applications covered by the license.  The agreement provides for a continuing royalty obligation upon commercial sale of skin and environmental sanitizers, and teat dips for the prevention of mastitis.
      “We are pleased to have received this payment for the use of one of our non-core antibacterial technologies.  Nisin technology was an early development of Nutrition 21 and is no longer a business focus.  The cash proceeds will be used to support our efforts to expand the market for our patented applications for chromium picolinate in metabolic health, including the commercialization of Diachrome® as a nutritional adjunct therapy for people with type 2 diabetes.” said Gail Montgomery, President and CEO.

About Nutrition 21
Nutrition 21 is a nutritional bioscience company and the maker of chromium-based supplements with health benefits substantiated by clinical research.  The company markets Chromax® chromium picolinate, which is the most-studied form of the essential mineral chromium.  Nutrition 21 also developed Diachrome®, which is available through diabetes educators or at www.diachrome.com.  Nutrition 21 holds 34 patents for nutrition products and uses, 25 of which are for chromium compounds and their uses.  More information is available at www.nutrition21.com.

Contact:

Al Palombo,
Cameron Associates
Investor Relations
(212) 554-5488
al@cameronassoc.com