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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 a/vbTjxzEy/0TgsefAGMWw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000070793-03-000028.txt : 20031212
<SEC-HEADER>0000070793-03-000028.hdr.sgml : 20031212
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031212114658
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000070793-03-000028
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031202
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031212

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:			SACKS ALFRED
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001204745

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31788
		FILM NUMBER:		031051036

	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>c0001204745d20031212f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-02</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000070793</issuerCik><issuerName>NBTY INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>NTY</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001204745</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>SACKS ALFRED</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>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivat
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e>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-03</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>25.36</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>27600</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitl
e><transactionDate><value>2003-12-03</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>25.3</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>22100</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-03
</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>25.28</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>19100</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-03</value></transactionDate><deemedEx
ecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3600</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>25.23</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>15500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable></derivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Irene B. Fisher, Esq.</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-12</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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