PURCHASE, N.Y., Sept. 11 NY-Nutrition21Studies
PURCHASE, N.Y., Sept. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nutrition 21, Inc.
(Nasdaq: NXXI), the developer and marketer of nutritional supplements under
the Iceland Health Chromax(R), and Diabetes Essentials(TM) brands that help
consumers manage blood sugar levels, improve cardiovascular health, enhance
memory and reduce chronic joint pain, reported today that study results
released by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) support the safety of
short-term and long-term use of Chromium Picolinate. Multiple safety studies
were performed in animals, including a two-year study using daily doses of
chromium picolinate equivalent to 50,000 times the common human dose found in
supplements. Results of the studies can be viewed at the NTP website at:
http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/?objectid=BD466797-123F-7908-7B4627379E1CE3E6.
Michael A. Zeher, president and chief executive officer of Nutrition 21,
commented, "We are pleased with the conclusions of the NTP studies. Over the
years Chromax chromium picolinate has proven to be an efficacious compound in
assisting consumers to safely and proactively attain, and maintain, healthy
blood glucose levels, carbohydrate metabolism, and body composition. Chromax
chromium picolinate is used as a nutritional ingredient in a wide variety of
dietary supplements and functional food and beverage products from leading
manufacturing companies. The results of these highly credible studies build
upon the extensive database of safety data behind our products, and help
provide retailers and consumers with the added confidence they need to
initially buy our product and to become loyal repeat customers."
"The results from the NTP studies are very significant in that chromium
picolinate did not cause any dose-related safety issues, even when used at
extremely high doses taken over prolonged periods of time," stated toxicology
expert Dr. Ron Slesinski, PhD., DABT, past President of the Regulatory and
Safety Specialty Section of the Society of Toxicology. "I believe that the
safety profile of chromium picolinate is firmly established by the results of
these independent studies."
James Komorowski, M.S., vice president -- technical services and
scientific affairs for Nutrition 21, concluded, "No other form of nutritional
chromium on the market today has been as thoroughly tested as Chromax chromium
picolinate. We believe that these results validate our operational philosophy
of combining high quality science and ground-breaking technology to develop
superior nutritional products."
About The National Toxicology Program
The National Toxicology Program is an interagency program established in
1978 by the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, which today is known
as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The program was created
as a cooperative effort to coordinate toxicology testing programs within the
federal government, strengthen the science base in toxicology, develop and
validate improved testing methods, and provide information about potentially
toxic chemicals to health, regulatory, and research agencies, scientific and
medical communities, and the public. The NTP is headquartered at the NIEHS,
for additional information visit http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/.
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(R), Iceland Health Life Advanced Memory
Formula(TM), Diabetes Essentials(TM), Iceland Health(R) Maximum Strength
Omega-3 and Iceland Health(R) 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 United States 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.
Company Contact: Investor Contact:
Alan KirschbaumLytham Partners, LLC
Chief Financial OfficerJoe Diaz, Joe Dorame, Robert Blum
914-701-4500 602-889-9700
SOURCE Nutrition 21, Inc.
