Recipients of autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) for solid tumors need nutritional support to maintain their body weight (BW). Severe BW-reduction (9.9%) was noticed retrospectively in ten ABMT patients fed orally, despite intensive counseling or occasional tube feeding. A prospective, randomized study of hyperalimentation (25 g nitrogen (N) and 3400 nonprotein kilocalories) with total parenteral nutrition (TPN) or partial parenteral plus enteral nutrition by tube feeding (PPN/EN) was done in 22 patients. Nutritional assessment included balance measurements of N, Na, K, Cl, P, Ca, Mg, Cu, and Zn, and serial measurements of BW, serum albumin, prealbumin, and transferrin. Both regimens were effective in maintaining BW (maximum percent of change, 2.5) and N-balance. Blood products accounted for an additional N-intake of 13% in both groups. The TPN group had a higher dietary N-intake versus PPN/EN, a positive K balance but negative Ca, Mg, Cu, and Zn balances. More mineral supplementation was given in the PPN/EN group where positive K, Mg, and Zn balances were seen. Visceral proteins and IgG, IgA, and IgM levels were decreased on days 7, 14, and 21. Creatinine clearance increased significantly in both groups. Compared with TPN, the PPN/EN group showed a twofold number of patients with a positive blood culture, although this observation did not reach statistical significance and patients had fewer days of diarrhea (31.1% versus 54.3%, P less than 0.01). Hyperalimentation with PPN/EN is an acceptable alternative to TPN in the nutritional support of ABMT recipients.