UNITED STATES
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               Washington, D.C. 20594


                                    SCHEDULE 13G

                      Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                                  (Amendment No. )*



                            Bergen Brunswig Corporation

                                  (Name of Issuer)

                                Class A Common Stock

                           (Title of Class of Securities)

                                     083739102

                                   (CUSIP Number)


     Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this statement [ ]. (A
     fee is not required only if the filing person: (1) has a previous statement
     on file reporting beneficial ownership of more than five percent of the
     class of securities described in Item 1: and (2) has filed no amendment
     subsequent thereto reporting beneficial ownership of five percent or less
     of such class.) (See Rule 13d-7).

     *The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
     person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of
     securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which
     would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

     The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be
     deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities
     Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of
     that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the
     Act (however, see the Notes).

















     







      1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
          S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
          Capital Research and Management Company
          95-1411037

      2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
                                                                         (a)

                                                                         (b)

      3   SEC USE ONLY




      4   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

          Delaware


                   5   SOLE VOTING POWER

                       NONE


                   6   SHARED VOTING POWER
      NUMBER OF
        SHARES
                       NONE
     BENEFICIALL
      Y OWNED BY
                   7   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
         EACH
      REPORTING
                       8,175,000
     PERSON WITH


                   8   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

                       NONE


      9   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

          8,175,000   Beneficial ownership disclaimed pursuant to Rule 13d-4


      10  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*




      11  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

          6.1%


      12  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

          IA


                         *SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT




     


                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                Washington, DC 20549

                                    Schedule 13G
                      Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

     Amendment No.

     Item 1(a)   Name of Issuer:
            Bergen Brunswig Corporation

     Item 1(b)   Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
            4000 Metropolitan Drive
            Orange, CA  92868-3510

     Item 2(a)   Name of Person(s) Filing:
            Capital Research and Management Company

     Item 2(b)   Address of Principal Business Office:
            333 South Hope Street
            Los Angeles, CA  90071

     Item 2(c)   Citizenship:   N/A

     Item 2(d)   Title of Class of Securities:
            Class A Common Stock

     Item 2(e)   CUSIP Number:
            083739102

     Item 3   The person(s) filing is(are):

            (e)    [X]   Investment Adviser registered under Section 203 of the
                 Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

     Item 4   Ownership

            Capital Research and Management Company, an investment adviser
            registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940
            is deemed to be the beneficial owner of 8,175,000 shares or 6.1% of
            the 134,207,000 shares of Class A Common Stock believed to be
            outstanding as a result of acting as investment adviser to various
            investment companies registered under Section 8 of the Investment
            Company Act of 1940.

     Item 5   Ownership of 5% or Less of a Class: [ ]

     Item 6   Ownership of More than 5% on Behalf of Another Person: N/A

     Item 7   Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired
            the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company: N/A

     Item 8   Identification and Classification of Members of the Group:  N/A

     Item 9   Notice of Dissolution of the Group:  N/A

     Item 10   Certification





     CUSIP: 083739102                                                Page 3 of 4






            By signing below, I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and
            belief, the securities referred to above were acquired in the
            ordinary course of business and were not acquired for the purpose
            of and do not have the effect of changing or influencing the
            control of the issuer of such securities and were not acquired in
            connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such
            purpose or effect.

        Signature

            After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
            belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement
            is true, complete and correct.



             Date:          February 10, 2000 (For the period ended
                            December 31, 1999)


             Signature:     *Paul G. Haaga, Jr.

             Name/Title:    Paul G. Haaga, Jr., Executive Vice
                            President

                            Capital Research and Management Company




             *By

                    James P. Ryan
                    Attorney-in-fact

                    Signed pursuant to a Power of Attorney dated January 18,
                    2000 included as an Exhibit to Schedule 13G filed with the
                    Securities and Exchange Commission by Capital Research and
                    Management Company on February 10, 2000 with respect to 3COM
                    Corporation