<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
NUTRACEUTICAL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION'S FINANCIAL POSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31,
1998 AND THE RESULTS OF ITS OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                             213
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   11,838
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,122
<INVENTORY>                                     27,892
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                41,652
<PP&E>                                          20,121
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (9,250)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 107,774
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           15,098
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           118
<OTHER-SE>                                      52,956
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   107,774
<SALES>                                         27,213
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                27,213
<CGS>                                           15,024
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   15,024
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 8,650
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    46
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 591
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  2,948
<INCOME-TAX>                                     1,135
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              1,813
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,813
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.16
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.15