Nutrition 21 Receives Commitment from CVS/pharmacy for Diachrome®

Now Available for People with Diabetes at CVS/pharmacy, the
First Retailer to Carry Diachrome

PURCHASE, N.Y., February 22, 2006 – Nutrition 21, Inc., (NASDAQ: NXXI) today announced that CVS/pharmacy will be the first retailer to carry the Company’s Diachrome® product.  Diachrome will be available at all 5,400 plus CVS/pharmacy stores in the diabetes area of its home health section.  Nutrition 21 is working to secure similar product placements for Diachrome at other major drug retailers.
     “The CVS commitment acknowledges our significant investment in clinical research over the last several years to support the launch of Diachrome,” said Paul Intlekofer, COO of Nutrition 21.  “We believe Diachrome is a very promising product that addresses a healthcare crisis in the United States and worldwide and has significant market potential.  We expect that the results of a 447-subject study with XLHealth, Inc. on the safety and efficacy of Diachrome will be published this summer.  An economic analysis by Thomas Jefferson University shows that the widespread use of Diachrome could deliver significant health care savings in the United States.  Efficacy and cost savings should encourage healthcare stakeholders to incorporate Diachrome into their treatment protocols.”
     Diachrome is a non-prescription, nutrient-based insulin sensitizer for adults who have type 2 diabetes that has shown a positive dual effect on blood sugar as well as lipid metabolism in clinical studies and practice.  It is a patented composition with United States and international patent protection through 2017. 

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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