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NETHERLANDS, September 4, 2003 – In a third study presented at last month’s prestigious International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Congress in Paris researchers from Isala Clinics and University Hospital Groningen, Netherlands showed that daily nutritional supplementation with 1,000 mcg of chromium as chromium picolinate significantly decreased blood sugar levels in insulin-treated people with poorly-controlled type 2 diabetes.  Managing glucose levels is important for maintaining long-term health and reducing complications associated with diabetes.  Two chromium picolinate research presentations showing similar effects on blood sugar levels by the University of Vermont College of Medicine and Nutrition 21, Inc. (Nasdaq:  NXXI) were also presented at the IDF Congress.

“The use of chromium picolinate in this trial produced significant improvements in HbA1c levels and other clinical parameters.  It will help us determine the right therapeutic doses of chromium picolinate for select patient populations,” explained Sebastiaan T. Houweling, lead investigator, Department of Internal Medicine, Isala Clinics.  “This is one of the first studies to test chromium picolinate supplementation exclusively on patients with insulin-treated, poorly-controlled type 2 diabetes.  Larger clinical studies are necessary to further evaluate the results and to investigate if these effects can be confirmed not only within the treated group, but also placebo controlled.”

In the Netherlands’s double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 52 subjects were randomly assigned to three groups, to receive placebo, 500 mcg or 1,000 mcg of chromium, as chromium picolinate, per day.  After six months, the average HbA1c in the 1,000 mcg chromium treated group showed a statistically significant improvement (a decrease from 9.5% to 9.0%).

The Clinical Trial

All 52 subjects had elevated glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels greater than 8%, despite insulin requirements of ≥ 50 units per day.  (HbA1c is a marker of long-term blood sugar control).  Investigators also measured serum lipids, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure and insulin requirements.  Significant improvements were found in the cholesterol/HDL ratio (-0.46 and –0.32 in the 500 mcg and 1,000 mcg chromium groups, respectively).  Trends for improvements were found for triglyceride levels in both chromium groups.  Other endpoints were not significantly different between all three groups at the end of the study.

Blood Sugar Control – The Key for People with Type 2 Diabetes

“This trial further contributes to clinical research indicating that 1,000 mcg of chromium as chromium picolinate can effectively decrease blood sugar levels to help reduce the complications associated with diabetes,” explains James Komorowski, MS, VP of Technical Services and Scientific Affairs for Nutrition 21, USA, who also presented research at the IDF Congress.  “For patients with type 2 diabetes who already receive insulin treatment, the potential to improve glucose control with a convenient nutritional therapy such as chromium picolinate is clinically important and cost effective.”

Chromium is an essential mineral that is a co-factor of insulin.  The Netherlands’s study is the fourth human clinical trial using 1,000 mcg of chromium showing significant effects in improving blood sugar levels in people with insulin resistance and diabetes.  There are two large definitive clinical trials now underway in the United States to further evaluate the effects of 1,000 mcg of chromium (as ChromaxÒ chromium picolinate) on blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome.

Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by high blood sugar levels that affects 194 million people worldwide.  Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness and visual impairment and the fourth main cause of death in adults in most developing countries.  People with diabetes are two-to-four times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease (CVD).  

About Nutrition 21

Nutrition 21 is a leading developer and provider of nutritional products, whose health benefits are substantiated by clinical research.  The Company markets Chromax chromium picolinate, the leading brand of chromium, as well as other nutritional products for people with type 2 diabetes.  Nutrition 21 holds 35 patents for nutrition products, 22 for chromium compounds and their uses.  The Company holds U.S and international patent rights for the use of 1,000 mcg of chromium, as chromium picolinate, supplementation to treat type 2 diabetes   More information is available at www.nutrition21.com. 

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Editors Note:  The study cited above was conducted and presented independently of Nutrition 21.  This press release is distributed by Nutrition 21, with the review and approval of the researchers.