To investigate the effects of medium and long chain fat emulsion on improving cellular immune function and nutritional status for gastric cancer patients.

From January 2012 to January 2015, ninety-six cases of gastric cancer undergoing operation were chosen. In accordance with the application of different kinds of fat emulsion, patients were divided into two groups, observation group of 50 cases used medium and long chain fat emulsion injection, and the control group of 46 cases used long chain fat emulsion injection. The recovery of gastrointestinal function, cellular immune function, nutritional status and the occurrence of side effects were observed and compared between the two groups.

The recovery of gastrointestinal function, exhaust recovery time, hospital stay showed no significant differences between the two groups. Before surgery, there was no statistical significance on immunoglobulin (IgA, IgG and IgM), T lymphocyte subsets or nutritional index. Seven days after surgery, all immunoglobulin, CD4+/CD8+ ratio, nutritional index (ALB, PA and TF) levels were significantly higher than the pre-operation levels, while the levels of T lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+) and Hb were significantly lower than the pre-operation levels (P<0.05). The comparison between the two groups found that nutrition immunoglobulin, T lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+), nutritional index (ALB, PA, Hb and TF) of observation group were significantly higher than the control group, while the CD4+/CD8+ ratio was significantly lower, the difference was statistically significant between the two groups (P<0.05) . The occurrence of side effects between the two groups had no significant difference (14.00% vs 15.22%, χ²=0.028, P=0.866).

Compared with long chain fat emulsion, the medium and long chain fat emulsion is better in improving the immune function and malnutrition of gastric cancer patients after operation, which is worthy of clinical application.