ObjectiveTo systematically review the effects of chewing gun on the promotion of intestinal function recovery after colorectal cancer surgery. MethodsWe searched PubMed, The Cochrane Library, CBM and CNKI databases from their inception to December 2014, to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing chewing gun in patients after colorectal cancer surgery. References of included studies were also retrieved. Two reviewers independently screened studies according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data, and assessed the methodological quality of included studies. Then meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.2 software. ResultsNine RCTs involved 686 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis indicated that, compared with the control group, chewing gun could significantly reduce the time to first passage of flatus (MD=-17.33, 95%CI -23.96 to -10.70, P<0.000 01), the time to the first defecation (MD=-22.25, 95%CI -36.45 to -8.05, P=0.002) and postoperative hospital stay (MD=-1.37, 95%CI -2.25 to -0.49, P=0.002) after colorectal cancer surgery, and could also reduce the intestinal obstruction caused by intestinal paralysis (OR=0.33, 95%CI 0.14 to 0.77, P=0.01). However, no significant difference in the incidence of nausea and vomiting was found. ConclusionEarly chewing gum can promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function in patients after colorectal cancer operation.