Background: Traditionally, patients fasted 8h before elective operations to minimize risk of aspiration. Recently, this has been challenged in Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols, which suggest the avoidance of preoperative fasting and promote carbohydrate loading up to 2h preoperatively. While there are increasing randomized controlled trial (RCT) data evaluating the use of preoperative carbohydrate loading, synthesis of data pertaining specifically to colorectal surgery has yet to be performed. This meta-analysis aimed to compare patients receiving preoperative carbohydrate loading to those receiving a control before colorectal surgery. Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL were searched. Articles were eligible for inclusion if they were RCTs comparing patients undergoing colorectal surgery receiving and not receiving preoperative carbohydrate loading. Primary outcomes were changes in blood glucose and insulin levels. Secondary outcomes included length of stay (LOS), time to first flatus and stool, and postoperative morbidity. A pairwise meta-analysis using inverse variance random effects was performed. Results: The search yielded 3656 citations, from which 12 RCTs were included. In total, 387 patients given preoperative carbohydrate loading (47.2% female, mean age 62.0 yr) and 371 controls (49.4% female, mean age 61.1 yr) were included. There was no significant difference in postoperative blood glucose and insulin levels between groups. Patients receiving preoperative carbohydrate loading experienced a shorter time to first flatus (standardized mean difference SMD -0.48 d, 95% confidence interval CI -0.84 to -0.12, p = 0.008) and stool (SMD -0.50 d, 95% CI -0.86 to -0.14, p = 0.007). LOS was shorter in the preoperative carbohydrate loading group (SMD -0.51 d, 95% Cl -0.88 to -0.14, p = 0.007). There was no difference in postoperative morbidity between the groups. Conclusion: Preoperative carbohydrate loading does not significantly impact postoperative glycemic control in patients undergoing colorectal surgery; however, it may allow for a shorter LOS and faster return of bowel function. It merits inclusion within colorectal ERAS protocols.