SAN MARCOS, Calif., Aug. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --

Natural Alternatives International, Inc. ("NAI") (Nasdaq: NAII), a leading formulator, manufacturer and marketer of customized nutritional supplements, today announced that the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), for the first time since its inception eight years ago, granted a lifetime achievement award to Professor Roger Harris of the UK with the citation, "In recognition of your outstanding contribution to the Science of Sports Nutrition." Dr. Harris is one of the original inventors of NAI's extensive beta-alanine patent estate which covers various methods and compositions for increasing the anaerobic working capacity in tissues.

Professor Harris was presented his award by ISSN President, Dr. Jose Antonio, at its 8th annual meeting held in July in Las Vegas. In his award address, Dr. Antonio noted that Professor Harris had spent 40 years in the field of exercise biochemistry since first joining the laboratory of Professor Eric Hultman in 1968 at St Erik's Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden, where the muscle biopsy technique was first developed.

In 1992, Professor Harris published the first description of creatine elevation in human muscle following three or more days of dietary creatine supplementation. The paper established a new level in sports nutrition and led to the broad use of creatine supplements by athletes and sports persons in an effort to improve exercise performance.

As Dr. Antonio explained, creatine was only the first of two key developments in sports nutrition initiated by Professor Harris, the second being a description of carnosine elevation in human muscle by supplementation of the diet with beta-alanine. Beta-alanine, together with histidine, forms the dipeptide carnosine which is one of the major defenses against the build up of lactic acid during exercise such as running, cycling, rowing, swimming and soccer. Increasing the muscle carnosine store by beta-alanine supplementation was shown by Professor Harris to increase exercise endurance. Today, beta-alanine supplements are increasingly used by elite athletes and undoubtedly will be featured in the nutritional preparation of competitors for the London 2012 Olympics, along with creatine.

Dr. Harris stated, "Such an award represents the work of many collaborators and research students and, in the case of the beta-alanine project also many years of unbroken research support from Natural Alternatives. I count myself very fortunate to have participated in two programs that have helped redefine sports nutrition. I am particularly indebted to the late Professor Eric Hultman of the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, who died earlier this year, for early mentoring on creatine, and to Dr. John Wise of NAI for 15 years of research partnership."

Mark LeDoux, NAI CEO and Chairman said, "Dr. Harris' extensive study of beta-alanine and his many years of dedication to the field of sports nutrition is the foundation of NAI's comprehensive beta-alanine patent portfolio. We applaud Dr. Harris and his many academic achievements and look forward to many more years of successful partnership."

NAI's extensive beta-alanine patent portfolio covering various methods and compositions for increasing the anaerobic working capacity in tissues, includes six issued US patents and several pending US patent applications, as well as patents in Canada, Europe, Japan and China. NAI currently manufactures several nutritional supplements using beta-alanine for existing customers under its patent estate. NAI also has continued its support of beta-alanine clinical research, collaborating with renowned universities and physicians.

Professor Roger Harris was born in Coventry, Warwickshire, UK, in 1944 and gained a degree in biochemistry from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, where he also undertook his Masters and PhD. Following eight years in Sweden in Professor Hultman's laboratory, Professor Harris spent a number of years in the UK pharmaceutical industry before returning to research once again in Sweden, then at the Animal Health Trust in the UK. From 1997 until his retirement from academic life in 2009, Professor Harris held the chair of Exercise Biochemistry and Sports Science at the University of Chichester, UK. Although now retired, he continues to collaborate with the Korean National Sport University, the Australian Institute of Sport, the University of Sao Paulo and Nottingham Trent University through his consultancy company, Junipa Ltd. Professor Harris has authored/co-authored over two hundred research papers as well as numerous book chapters.

NAI, headquartered in San Marcos, California, is a leading formulator, manufacturer and marketer of nutritional supplements and provides strategic partnering services to its customers. Our comprehensive partnership approach offers a wide range of innovative nutritional products and services to our clients including: scientific research, clinical studies, proprietary ingredients, customer-specific nutritional product formulation, product testing and evaluation, marketing management and support, packaging and delivery system design, regulatory review and international product registration assistance. For more information about NAI, please see our website at http://www.nai-online.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws that are not historical facts and information. These statements represent our intentions, expectations and beliefs concerning future events, including, among other things, our expectations and beliefs with respect to our beta-alanine patent estate and the use of creatine and beta-alanine dietary supplements, as well as future economic conditions and the impact of such conditions on our business. We wish to caution readers these statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes for future periods to differ materially from any forward-looking statement or views expressed herein. The forward-looking statements contained herein are further qualified by other risks including those set forth from time to time in the documents filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

CONTACT - Kenneth Wolf, Chief Operating and Chief Financial Officer, Natural Alternatives International, Inc., at 760-736-7700 or investor@nai-online.com.

Web site: http://www.nai-online.com

SOURCE Natural Alternatives International, Inc.