Carlyle Merger (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended									1 Months Ended						0 Months Ended		12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended			1 Months Ended				1 Months Ended			1 Months Ended			1 Months Ended			1 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Oct. 02, 2010	Sep. 30, 2012 Machinery and equipment Minimum	Sep. 30, 2012 Machinery and equipment Maximum	Sep. 30, 2012 Furniture and fixtures Minimum	Sep. 30, 2012 Furniture and fixtures Maximum	Sep. 30, 2012 Computer equipment Minimum	Sep. 30, 2012 Computer equipment Maximum	Sep. 30, 2012 Transportation equipment Minimum	Sep. 30, 2012 Transportation equipment Maximum	Mar. 01, 2011 Senior secured term loan	Oct. 31, 2010 Notes	Sep. 30, 2012 Notes	Mar. 01, 2011 Senior secured revolving credit facility	Oct. 02, 2010 Senior secured revolving credit facility	Oct. 02, 2010 Holdings	Oct. 02, 2010 Merger Sub Senior secured term loan	Oct. 02, 2010 Merger Sub Notes	Oct. 02, 2010 Merger Sub Senior secured revolving credit facility	Sep. 30, 2010 NBTY	Oct. 02, 2010 NBTY	Oct. 02, 2010 NBTY Brands and customer relationships	Oct. 31, 2010 NBTY Brands and customer relationships Minimum	Oct. 31, 2010 NBTY Brands and customer relationships Maximum	Oct. 02, 2010 NBTY Tradenames and other	Oct. 31, 2010 NBTY Tradenames and other Minimum	Oct. 31, 2010 NBTY Tradenames and other Maximum	Oct. 02, 2010 NBTY Land	Oct. 02, 2010 NBTY Buildings and leasehold improvements	Oct. 31, 2010 NBTY Buildings and leasehold improvements Minimum	Oct. 31, 2010 NBTY Buildings and leasehold improvements Maximum	Oct. 02, 2010 NBTY Machinery and equipment	Oct. 31, 2010 NBTY Machinery and equipment Minimum	Oct. 31, 2010 NBTY Machinery and equipment Maximum	Oct. 02, 2010 NBTY Furniture and fixtures	Oct. 31, 2010 NBTY Furniture and fixtures Minimum	Oct. 31, 2010 NBTY Furniture and fixtures Maximum	Oct. 02, 2010 NBTY Computer equipment	Oct. 31, 2010 NBTY Computer equipment Minimum	Oct. 31, 2010 NBTY Computer equipment Maximum	Oct. 02, 2010 NBTY Transportation equipment	Oct. 31, 2010 NBTY Transportation equipment Minimum	Oct. 31, 2010 NBTY Transportation equipment Maximum	Oct. 02, 2010 NBTY Construction in progress	Oct. 02, 2010 NBTY Restricted stock unit	Oct. 02, 2010 NBTY Stock option	Oct. 02, 2010 NBTY Senior Subordinated Notes
Carlyle Merger
Share price (in dollars per share)																						$ 55.00
Value of common stock issued																						$ 3,570,191
Repayment of historical debt																						427,367
Cash acquired, which includes restricted cash collateral																						361,609
Restricted cash collateral																						15,126
Total net purchase price																						3,635,949
Face amount of debt												1,750,000						1,750,000
Debt issued													650,000						650,000
Aggregate equity contribution																	1,550,400
Interest rate on debt instrument (as a percent)														9.00%					9.00%																													7.125%
Borrowing capacity															200,000	250,000				250,000
Amount receivable per share under converted rights (in dollars per share)			$ 55.00																																											$ 55.00
Amount in excess of exercise price receivable per outstanding option (in dollars per share)																																															$ 55.00
Fees and expenses related to transactions occurred																						184,600
Financing costs capitalized																						115,431
Financing costs paid	138,227																				1,524
Allocation of the purchase price
Cash consideration																						3,982,432
Allocated to:
Cash and cash equivalents																						346,483
Accounts receivable																						135,377
Inventories																						782,354
Deferred income taxes																						7,457
Prepaids and other current assets																						51,078
Property, plant and equipment																						493,115							67,832	216,571			119,405			53,109			18,113			5,844			12,241
Intangibles																						2,053,000
Other assets																						18,404
Accounts payable																						(141,139)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities																						(190,459)
Deferred income taxes																						(762,774)
Other liabilities																						(27,601)
Debt and Capital leases																						(803)
Net assets acquired																						2,764,492
Goodwill																						1,217,940
Fair value of property, plant and equipment acquired
Depreciation and amortization period				3 years	13 years	3 years	10 years	3 years	5 years	3 years	4 years																				4 years	40 years		3 years	13 years		3 years	10 years		3 years	5 years		3 years	4 years
Fair value of identifiable intangible assets acquired
Definite lived intangible assets																						1,056,000	885,000			171,000
Indefinite lived intangible assets, Tradenames																						997,000
Total intangible assets																						2,053,000
Amortization period																								17 years	25 years		20 years	30 years
Unaudited pro forma financial information
Net sales		2,826,737
Net income		622
Increase in cost of sales relating to an increase in acquired inventory to fair value		122,104
Non-recurring merger expenses		$ 90,382