Abstract: Objective To investigate the efficacy of short- term nutritional intervention in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma treated by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization. Methods Sixty patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma who were admitted to Beijing Youan Hospital to receive transcatheter arterial chemoembolization from January 2012 to October 2012 were equally and non- randomly divided into two groups: nutrition group and control group. The two groups were all given nutrition guidance after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization. The nutrition group was given 15 g liver essentials twice a day( one in the morning and the other in the evening) by oral administration for 4 weeks,while the control group was given routine diet for 4 weeks. Comparison of data between the two groups was made by independent- samples t test. Results After 4 weeks of continuous treatment,the two groups had significantly increased body weight( P< 0. 05),arm muscle circumference( P < 0. 05),and triceps skinfold thickness( P < 0. 05). The two groups had significantly increased total protein( 67 ± 13 g / L vs 72 ± 9 g / L,P = 0. 04; 66 ± 10 g / L vs 74 ± 8 g / L,P = 0. 02) after treatment,and there was a significant difference in changes in total protein after treatment between the two groups( P = 0. 04). The nutrition group had significantly increased albumin( 34. 7 ± 2. 9 g/L vs 39. 9 ± 3. 5 g/L,P = 0. 03) and cholinesterase( 3342 ± 415 U/L vs 4600 ± 459 U/L,P = 0. 01) after treatment,and there was a significant difference in changes in albumin( P = 0. 03) and cholinesterase( P = 0. 03) after treatment between the two groups.Conclusion For patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma treated by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization,oral administration of liver essentials improves their nutritional status and liver function,so as to increase their tolerance to subsequent treatments.