Objective    To observe the changes of cellular immune function on multiple trauma patients and the effects of fish oil parenteral nutrition on these changes.     Methods    Totally 26 patients of multiple trauma were randomly and equally divided into fish oil group (mainly containing ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids) and conventional group. Another 20 health individuals served as control. Besides regular management

conventional group

was given parenteral nutrition  with soybean oil 1.2 g·kg

-1

·d

-1

fish oil group with soybean oil 1.0 g·kg

-1

·d

-1

and fish oil 0.2 g·kg

-1

·d

-1

for 5 d. Collection of peripheral blood before treatment and 3 and 6 d after treatment respectively. Serum concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP)

macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF)

IFN-γ and IL-4 were measured with ELISA.     Results    Serum concentration of CRP

MIF and IL-4 levels were significantly higher in multiple trauma patients than the control group (P0.01)

IFN-γ level was significantly lower (P0.01). From t the 3rd day after treatment

the fish oil group had significantly lower levels of CRP and IL-4 (P0.05)

and very significantly lower MIF than the conventional group (P0.01)

while that of IFN-γ level was significantly higher in the former than the later group (P0.05); at the 6th day after treatment

the CRP

MIF

IL-4 levels of fish oil group was very significant lower than the conventional group (P0.01)

and IFN-γ level very significant higher(P0.01).     Conclusion    ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids can be regarded a helpful supplementation for regular management for multiple trauma

which significantly improves immune defense by effectively suppressing the Th1/Th2 response patterns shift and reducing secondary injuries after excessive inflammatory response.