Table 1.
Summary of findings of reviewed randomised controlled trials
| Reference | Aim of the study | Number of patients | Conclusion |
| Yulli et al6 | Test patient tolerance of CHO and metabolic response | 65 | CHO is safe and well tolerated, with attenuated muscle depletion |
| Hendry et al7 | Test patient compliance of CHO | 99 | CHO is well tolerated |
| Noblett et al8 | Determine the effect of CHO on clinical outcome | 36 | Reduced hospital stay with hastened return of gastrointestinal function |
| Mathur et al9 | Determine the effect of CHO on clinical outcome | 140 | Reduced hospital stay |
| Bisgaard et al10 | Determine the effect of CHO on laparoscopic patients | 94 | Safe to give CHO |
| Hausel et al11 | Assess the effect of CHO on PONV | 174 | CHO reduced PONV |
| Wang et al12 | Determine the effect of CHO on postoperative insulin resistance | 48 | Improved metabolic profile in CHO patients |
| Svanfeldt et al13 | Assess postoperative protein and glucose kinetics | 12 | Enhanced postoperative metabolic response |
| Svanfeldt et al14 | Assess effect of CHO on insulin action | 6 | CHO enhanced insulin action |
| Gustaffson et al15 | Determine safety of CHO in diabetic patients | 35 | CHO is safe in diabetics |
| Can et al16 | Compare CHO in patients with or without insulin resistance | 34 | Similar pattern of response |