Nutrition 21 Receives Commitment from a National Retail Chain for its Chromax® Product

Food, Drug and Mass Retailer Support Continues to Grow

PURCHASE, N.Y., April 10, 2006 – Nutrition 21, Inc., (NASDAQ: NXXI) today announced that it has received a purchase order from a national retail chain for the company’s Chromax® chromium picolinate product.  The Customer has requested that Nutrition 21 not announce its name until the product is available at all of its 5,000 plus stores.  The Customer also committed to distribute the Company’s Diachrome product. 
     Chromax is a supplement for healthy and pre-diabetic people that promotes insulin health and helps improve blood sugar metabolism and cardiovascular health.  Diachrome is a non-prescription nutrient based insulin sensitizer for people with type 2 diabetes.  
     “We now have commitments from five of the top eight retailers in the United States,” said Paul Intlekofer, COO of Nutrition 21.  “Their commitment to put Chromax on the shelf is further evidence of the growing public interest in the insulin-related benefits of chromium picolinate.  Chromium is to insulin health as calcium is to bone health.  Chromium picolinate is 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.”
     The Company is supporting its strategy for direct retail sales of Chromax and the chromium picolinate category with a comprehensive marketing and communications program.  The Company expects revenues from its direct retail sales efforts to commence in the 2nd calendar quarter of 2006.

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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