-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
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,
 LOWL7+1F3je7DivX2uUCgq9XBSZEfoziea5wGhDdlcl+fDmNaandElYFNT21r2NF
 dmeWB/8ebQtR6+XGTAMrpw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000070793-03-000020.txt : 20030820
<SEC-HEADER>0000070793-03-000020.hdr.sgml : 20030820
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030820170744
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000070793-03-000020
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030724
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030820

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:			FLAHERTY JAMES P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001206229

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-10666
		FILM NUMBER:		03858570

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

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		90 ORVILLE DRIVE
		CITY:			BOHEIA
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11716
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001206229d20030820f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</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>0001206229</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>FLAHERTY JAMES P</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NBTY, INC</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>90 ORVILLE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>BOHEMIA</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>11716</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonD
erivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-24</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>50393</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>51357</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></
nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Distribution Pursuant To Divorce Decree</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Irene B. Fisher, Esq.</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-20</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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