Nutrition 21, Inc., the developer and marketer of ingredients and finished products under the Iceland Health, Chromax, and Diabetes Essentials brands that help consumers manage blood sugar levels, improve cardiovascular health, enhance memory and reduce chronic joint pain, today announced that the Company has obtained an exclusive license for a patented combination of a probiotic and omega-3 fish oil. The exclusive license, obtained from ProbioHealth, LLC and ProbioFerm, LLC, allows Nutrition 21 to expand its ingredient portfolio with a novel ingredient blend.
Probiotics are healthy bacteria marketed as foods (in yogurts) and as dietary supplements to support digestive health. The 2008 U.S. probiotic market was valued at over $1.5 billion. The majority of probiotics are currently marketed as foods, since sales of supplement capsules have been hampered by shelf life problems. Independent labs examining probiotic supplements have reported that 70 to 80 percent of samples tested do not contain their label claims.
"The probiotic included in the exclusive license, Lactobacillus casei ATCC 3945, has shown enhanced stability when mixed with omega-3 fish oil," stated James Komorowski, MS, CNS, Vice President, Research & Development at Nutrition 21. "The omega-3 fish oil coats the probiotic and provides a beneficial barrier to air and moisture," continued Mr. Komorowski. "So not only will consumers obtain the digestive health and heart health benefit from the probiotic and omega-3 fish oil, but the combination also enhances the shelf life of the finished product."
Omega-3 dietary supplements continue to be one of the largest and strongest markets in the U.S. supplement industry. Probiotics comprise a large market worldwide, but more recently sales have rapidly increased in the U.S. as major manufacturers have introduced new products. The Company's newly acquired technology may be an attractive option for companies looking for new product options to overcome the shelf life challenges with probiotics, as well as new product options for companies wanting to expand their line of premium omega-3 products.
Michael Zeher, President and Chief Executive Officer, added, "This new product, called ProBiomega(TM), is the only product available that combines the benefits of a probiotic and omega-3 fish oil. We are very excited to enter the fast-growing probiotic market with this unique product formulation."
About Nutrition 21
Nutrition 21, Inc. (OTC:BB: NXXI.OB), 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 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 retailers as well as internationally. For more information please visit http://www.nutrition21.com.
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