Liu B, et al. - In a single-center randomized controlled study, researchers assessed the effects of preoperative oral carbohydrate loading vs fasting on the results of elective craniotomy patients. Included and randomized in 2 groups were 120 neurosurgical patients admitted for elective craniotomy: 58 patients received 400 mL of oral carbohydrate loading 2 hours before surgery (intervention group) and 62 patients fasted 8 hours before surgery as routine management (control group). They suggested that oral carbohydrate loading 2 hours prior to surgery in patients undergoing elective craniotomy appears to improve glucose homeostasis, handgrip strength and pulmonary function and reduce the length of stay (LOS) without increasing the risk of postoperative complications. Routine use of preoperative oral carbohydrate loading might be suggested in clinical settings.