<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
NUTRACEUTICAL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION'S FINANCIAL POSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31,
1996 AND DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND THE RESULTS OF ITS OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE
MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1996             SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1996             OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                           2,287                     711
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    9,995                   9,565
<ALLOWANCES>                                       835                     841
<INVENTORY>                                     17,422                  25,255
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                30,483                  36,385
<PP&E>                                          12,783                  16,374
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (3,020)                 (5,777)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  86,407                  90,820
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            9,639                  18,598
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                            93                      93
<OTHER-SE>                                      13,020                  17,713
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    86,407                  90,820
<SALES>                                         22,365                  25,857
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                22,365                  25,857
<CGS>                                           11,803                  13,857
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   11,803                  13,857
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 7,166                   8,103
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    35                     106
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,705                   1,568
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  1,691                   2,329
<INCOME-TAX>                                       668                     897
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              1,023                   1,432
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,023                   1,432
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.11                    0.15
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.10                    0.14