<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
REXALL SUNDOWN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE FOR THE TWELVE
MONTHS ENDED AUGUST 31, 1996 (THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL
INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-K AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS).
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000  
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR    
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               AUG-31-1996
<CASH>                                          13,450
<SECURITIES>                                     7,988
<RECEIVABLES>                                   11,410<F1>
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                     28,179
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                70,178
<PP&E>                                          24,078<F2>
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 103,095
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           16,045
<BONDS>                                            105<F3>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           307
<OTHER-SE>                                      86,385
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   103,095
<SALES>                                        187,844
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               187,844
<CGS>                                           71,682
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   71,682
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                86,673
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  40
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 32,091
<INCOME-TAX>                                    11,798
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             20,293
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    20,293
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .66
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>NET OF ALLOWANCE.
<F2>NET OF DEPRECIATION.
<F3>INCLUDES LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS.
</FN>