Objective    To investigate the application of total parenteral nutrition with alanyl-glutamine dipeptide in postoperative patients of gastrointestinal neoplasms.     Methods    Sixty-four postoperative patients of gastrointestinal neoplasms were randomly divided into study group and control group. The patients in the two groups all received isocaloric (96.0 kJ·kg

-1

·d

-1

) and isonitrogen (0.25 g·kg

-1

·d

-1

) parenteral nutrition from postoperative day 1 to day 7

and the study group received additional alanyl-glutamine. The serum levels of albumin

pre-albumin

IgG

IgA

IgM

C3

C4 were measured before operation and on postoperative day 1 and 8. Nitrogen balance was calculated on postoperative day 1

4 and 8.     Results    Compared with preoperation

the serum levels of albumin and pre-albumin were both significantly decreased in two groups (P0.01). Compared with those of preoperation

IgG

IgM IgA levels were decreased significantly on preoperative day 4 in two groups (P0.01)

and increased in the study group on postoperative day 8 (P0.05). C3 and C4 levels in the study group were increased more than those in the control group (P0.05) on postoperative day 8. Nitrogen balance in the study group was better than those in the control group (P0.05) on postoperative day 8.      Conclusion    Alanyl-glutamine dipeptide is beneficial to postoperative patients of gastrointestinal neoplasms

and can improve their nutritional status

enhance their immune function.