SAN MARCOS, Calif., Nov. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --

Natural Alternatives International, Inc. ("NAI") (NASDAQ:NAII), a leading formulator, manufacturer and marketer of customized nutritional supplements, announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent No. 8,067,381 entitled "Methods and compositions for increasing the anaerobic working capacity in tissues." The new patent becomes part of NAI's portfolio covering its CarnoSyn^® beta-alanine product.

Mark A. LeDoux, NAI's CEO and Chairman of the Board, said that "NAI is very pleased by the issuance of this new patent, which further strengthens and broadens the company's global intellectual property portfolio and supports our significant investment in the CarnoSyn^®beta-alanine business." He went on to say, "This action by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office should put to rest any confusion in the marketplace as to the status of NAI's beta-alanine patent estate. NAI has multiple valid patents that include claims covering human dietary supplements containing beta-alanine. NAI will continue to vigorously develop, grow and enforce its intellectual property rights."

NAI's new patent contains claims specifically directed to beta-alanine compositions in several formulations, wherein the beta-alanine is not part of a dipeptide, polypeptide or oligopeptide and is in the form of a dietary supplement. Esters or amides of beta-alanine, which are not part of a dipeptide, polypeptide or oligopeptide, may also be employed. Additional active agents, such as carbohydrates, L-histidine, insulin and creatine, may also be present.

Currently, the only duly licensed distributor of NAI's CarnoSyn® beta-alanine product is Compound Solutions, Inc., a science and marketing based distributor of raw materials to the sports nutrition, dietary supplement, food, pharmaceutical and personal care industries.

NAI, headquartered in San Marcos, California, is a leading formulator, manufacturer and marketer of nutritional supplements and provides strategic partnering services to its customers. NAI's comprehensive partnership approach offers a wide range of innovative nutritional products and services to NAI's 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 its 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 future financial and operating results, the outcome of pending litigation, the continued validity of our patents, and our ability to successfully develop, license and enforce our intellectual property rights. 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. NAI's financial performance and 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.

SOURCE Natural Alternatives International, Inc.