Objective To explore the influence of structured lipid emulsion on inflammatory cell factors and immunologic function in gastrointestinal cancer patients after operation.Methods From July 2010 to February 2012,80 postoperative patients with gastrointestinal cancer were randomly divided into 2 groups with 40 cases each by stratified sampling method:structured lipid emulsion group (observation group),physical mixture of medium-chain/long-chain triglycerides group (control group).Both groups received isonitrogenous and isocaloric parenteral nutrition for 6 days after operation.The general conditions after operation were compared between two groups.Inflammatory cell factors and immunologic function were measured before operation,the 1st day and 7th day after operation.Results After 6 days parenteral nutrition,the vital sign data,blood routine,liver and renal function,blood fat etc was normal in two groups.There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative infection complication and hospitalization duration between observation group and control group [12.5％(5/40) vs.25.0％(10/40),[( 12.9 ± 0.7 d) vs.(13.1 ±0.9) d] (P ＞0.05).The serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1,IL-2,IL-6,tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α on the 1st day after operation in two groups decreased,then gradually increasing.The serum levels of IL-2,IL-6,TNF- α on the 7th day after operation in observation group[(987 ± 203),(277 ± 107),( 197 ± 98) ng/L] were lower than those in control group [(1347 ± 195),(752 ± 187),(342 ± 106) ng/L](P＜0.05 ).The serum levels of IgG,IgA,IgM,CD3+,CD4+ and CD8+ on the 1st day after operation in two groups decreased,then gradually increasing.The serum levels of IgG,CD3+,CD4+ were higher in observation group [( 14.2 ± 1.8 ) g/L,0.746 ± 0.111,0.580 ± 0.067] than those in control group [( 12.1 ± 2.8) g/L,0.606 ±0.101,0.404 ± 0.072] (P ＜0.05).Conclusion Structured lipid emulsion can reduce immunological suppression and inflammation in gastrointestinal cancer patients after operation,regulate the inflammatory cell factors producing and releasing,improve the immunologic function.