Facility Restructuring Charge (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 12, 2013 item	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013
Reconciliation of charges to accrued expenses
Charges		$ 30,200	$ 30,200
Closure of NBTY's facilities
Facility restructuring charge
Expected number of facilities to be eliminated	7
Excess depreciation		7,499	7,499
Reconciliation of charges to accrued expenses
Charges			22,701
Accrued expenses at the end of the period		22,701	22,701
Closure of NBTY's facilities | Workforce Reductions
Reconciliation of charges to accrued expenses
Charges		16,901	16,901
Accrued expenses at the end of the period		16,901	16,901
Closure of NBTY's facilities | Facility Costs
Reconciliation of charges to accrued expenses
Charges		5,800	5,800
Accrued expenses at the end of the period		5,800	5,800
Closure of NBTY's facilities | Minimum
Facility restructuring charge
Expected cumulative charges	34,000
Closure of NBTY's facilities | Minimum | Workforce Reductions
Facility restructuring charge
Expected cumulative charges	16,000
Closure of NBTY's facilities | Minimum | Facility Costs
Facility restructuring charge
Expected cumulative charges	5,000
Closure of NBTY's facilities | Minimum | Incremental depreciation
Facility restructuring charge
Expected cumulative charges	13,000
Closure of NBTY's facilities | Maximum
Facility restructuring charge
Expected cumulative charges	45,000
Closure of NBTY's facilities | Maximum | Workforce Reductions
Facility restructuring charge
Expected cumulative charges	17,000
Closure of NBTY's facilities | Maximum | Facility Costs
Facility restructuring charge
Expected cumulative charges	10,000
Closure of NBTY's facilities | Maximum | Incremental depreciation
Facility restructuring charge
Expected cumulative charges	18,000