OBJECTIVE:To provide reference and evidence for rational use of clinical nutrition. METHODS:The types of en-teral and parenteral nutrition and the cost of prescription were analyzed statistically in 17 third grade class A general hospitals,3 third grade class A special hospitals and 14 secondary general hospitals from Shanghai area during 2011 to 2013. RESULTS:Nutri-tion preparations were mainly used by hospitalized patients. Total cost of nutrition preparations in outpatient and emergency depart-ment respectively occupied 8.14%,8.77% and 8.89% of total cost of nutrition preparations in the hospital during 2011-2013. The parenteral nutrition was the main form of nutritional support. There were only three kinds of enteral nutrition in top ten nutrition preparations in the list of prescription cost. Although seven out of ten kinds of nutrition preparations were given enterally which was the main mode for outpatients and emergency patients,the cost of prescriptions of parenteral nutrition increased faster compared to enteral nutrition,especially alanyl-glutamine. CONCLUSIONS:Parenteral nutrition is the main mode of nutrition support,especial-ly for inpatients;great attention should be paid to the increase of the cost of prescriptions about parenteral nutrition in outpatients and emergency patients.