Nutrition 21 Receives Commitment from Albertsons for its Chromax® Chromium Picolinate Food, Drug and Mass Retailer Support Continues to Grow PURCHASE, N.Y., March 23, 2006 – Nutrition 21, Inc., (NASDAQ: NXXI) today announced that it has received a purchase order from Albertsons, Inc. for Nutrition 21’s Chromax® chromium picolinate product. Albertsons will distribute Chromax chain-wide at its stores under the banners Albertsons, Sav-on Drugs, Jewel-Osco and OscoDrug. Chromax is a supplement for healthy and pre-diabetic people that promotes insulin health and helps improve blood sugar metabolism. “The Albertsons commitment is our fourth retailer of the top 10 retailers to agree to carry Chromax,” said Paul Intlekofer, COO of Nutrition 21. “We are pleased that Alberstons is receptive to creating an Insulin Health end-benefit destination on the shelf for chromium picolinate similar to Bone Health for calcium. Retailers appreciate that chromium picolinate has growing appeal to consumers – it was one of five featured “Super Nutrients” in the January 16 issue of Newsweek magazine. It was also the focus of a feature story in the April 3 issue of First for Women,” added Intlekofer. 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, http://www.chromax.com/, which is the most-studied form of the essential mineral chromium. Nutrition 21 also developed Diachrome®, http://www.diachrome.com. Nutrition 21 holds 36 patents for nutrition products and uses, 27 of which are for chromium compounds and their uses. More information is available at 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 for the year ended June 30, 2005 and subsequent reports on From 10-Q. 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. # # # |
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