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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Mzc/c856TznWDzF68KJSCjrtfwnJoZ0IAp5kFlJJq8qLQqRIo+BGKOp2frZnJ/gf
 Xc9zxM6217KAM42ElJ9pLA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000070793-03-000004.txt : 20030725
<SEC-HEADER>0000070793-03-000004.hdr.sgml : 20030725
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030725165133
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000070793-03-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030724
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030725

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NBTY INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000070793
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				112228617
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		90 ORVILLE DR
		CITY:			BOHEMIA
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11716
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5165679500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		90 ORVILLE DRIVE
		CITY:			BOHEMIA
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11716

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NATURES BOUNTY INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SLADE MICHAEL C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001204918

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-10666
		FILM NUMBER:		03804034

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		90 ORVILLE DRIVE
		CITY:			BOHEMIA
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11716
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6315679500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		90 ORVILLE DRIVE
		CITY:			BOHEMIA
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11716
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001204918d20030725f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-24</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000070793</issuerCik><issuerName>NBTY INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>NBTY</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001204918</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>SLADE MICHAEL C</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Secretary &amp; Senior Vice Presid</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitl
e><transactionDate><value>2003-07-24</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>-10000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>24.76</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1142781</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Irene B. Fisher, Esq.</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-25</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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