<PAGE>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 12.1

                          LEINER HEALTH PRODUCTS INC.
               COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            FISCAL YEARS ENDED MARCH 31,
                                                -----------------------------------------------------
                                                  1999       1998      1997(1)     1996       1995
                                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                             <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Net income (loss).............................  $  10,307  $ (17,417) $   7,638  $   1,166  $   3,813
Extraordinary item............................         --      1,109      2,756         --         --
Income taxes..................................      8,034      1,196      8,028      4,686      3,524
Fixed charges.................................     31,803     21,242      9,866     11,484     10,863
                                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
  Earnings....................................  $  50,144  $   6,130  $  28,288  $  17,336  $  18,200
                                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Fixed charges:
Interest expense, net.........................  $  28,732  $  19,494  $   8,281  $   9,924  $   9,010
Interest portion of rent expense..............      3,071      1,748      1,585      1,560      1,853
                                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
  Total fixed charges.........................  $  31,803  $  21,242  $   9,866  $  11,484  $  10,863
                                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(2).........        1.6         --        2.9        1.5        1.7
                                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>

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(1) On January 30, 1997, the Company purchased Vita Health. The Vita Health
    acquisition was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting.
    Consequently, the results of operations of Vita Health were included in the
    consolidated financial results of the Company for the two months ended March
    31, 1997.

(2) In calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of
    income before taxes plus fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest
    expense and amortization of deferred financing fees, whether capitalized or
    expensed, plus one-third of rental expense under operating leases (the
    portion that has been deemed by the Company to be representative of an
    interest factor). Earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges by $15.1
    million for the year ended March 31, 1998.