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Total Parenteral Nutrition Calculator

Work out total parenteral nutrition instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Total Parenteral Nutrition Calculator

Builds a parenteral nutrition prescription from weight-based energy and protein targets, splitting the non-protein energy between lipid and dextrose.

Formula

TPN macronutrients

Total kcal = weight x kcal/kg; protein g = weight x g/kg (4 kcal/g); lipid g = lipid kcal / 9; dextrose g = dextrose kcal / 3.4

Worked example

With the default values below, Total Parenteral Nutrition Calculator returns Total daily energy of 1,750. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Body weightaccepts 1–250 kg
70 kg
Energy targetaccepts 10–45 kcal/kg/day
25 kcal/kg/day
Protein targetaccepts 0.5–2.5 g/kg/day
1.3 g/kg/day
Share of non-protein energy from lipidaccepts 10–60
30

Results

Total daily energy
1,750 kcal
Protein (amino acids)
91.0 g
Lipid
46.2 g
Dextrose
285.4 g

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2TPN macronutrients
  3. 3Total daily energy= 1,750 kcal
  4. 4Protein (amino acids)= 91.0 g
  5. 5Lipid= 46.2 g
  6. 6Dextrose= 285.4 g

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 1 decimal place, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
  • Educational estimate only. Not a substitute for professional clinical judgement, and must not be used to make treatment or dosing decisions.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Educational estimate only. Not a substitute for professional clinical judgement, and must not be used to make treatment or dosing decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why 3.4 kcal per gram of dextrose?

Parenteral dextrose is monohydrate, which yields 3.4 rather than the 4 kcal/g of dietary carbohydrate.

What limits the dextrose rate?

Glucose oxidation capacity, usually about 4 to 5 mg/kg/min in adults, above which lipogenesis and hyperglycaemia occur.

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