<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
NUTRACEUTICAL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION'S FINANCIAL POSITION AS OF MARCH 31,
1997 AND MARCH 31, 1998 AND THE RESULTS OF ITS OPERATIONS FOR THE SIX MONTHS
ENDED MARCH 31, 1997 AND 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997             SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997             MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                           2,198                   2,049
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   10,486                   9,549
<ALLOWANCES>                                       860                     933
<INVENTORY>                                     19,610                  26,071
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                33,116                  39,412
<PP&E>                                          13,873                  17,398
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (3,619)                 (6,622)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  89,048                  92,819
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           12,899                  10,076
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                            93                     118
<OTHER-SE>                                      14,532                  49,218
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    89,048                  92,819
<SALES>                                         47,485                  53,656
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                47,485                  53,656
<CGS>                                           25,123                  28,600
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   25,123                  28,600
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                14,858                  17,562
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    79                     211
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               3,345                   2,756
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  4,159                   4,738
<INCOME-TAX>                                     1,643                   1,824
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              2,516                   2,914
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                 (3,129)
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,516                   (215)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.27                  (0.02)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.24                  (0.02)