Purchase, NY, April 1, 2009 – Nutrition 21, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXXI), a developer and marketer of nutritional supplements that help consumers manage blood sugar levels, improve cardiovascular health, enhance memory and address chronic joint pain, announced today that on March 31, 2009 it redeemed all of its Series I outstanding Convertible Preferred Shares, as required by the terms of these shares. The Company redeemed 3,594 shares for a total of $3,594,000.00.

“We are pleased to make this redemption and we extend our thanks and appreciation to our investors for the confidence they placed in Nutrition 21,” said Michael Zeher, president and chief executive officer of Nutrition 21. “We continue to make substantial progress in positioning the Company for consistent growth and profitability in the years to come; and we look to the future with positive anticipation.”

About Nutrition 21
Nutrition 21, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXXI), 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^', Iceland Health Life Advanced Memory Formula^™, Diabetes Essentials^™, Iceland Health^' Maximum Strength Omega-3 and Iceland Health^' 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 U.S. 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.