Need to Know Numbers for Nutrition

Question 1

Macronutrient

Recommendations

Answer 1

National Reserach Counsil recommendations (AMDR)

Percentage of total calories from macronutrients:

Fat: 20-35%

Carbohydrate: 45-65%

Protein: 10-35%

Question 2

Energy Units

Answer 2

1 Cal = 1 kcal = 4.2 kJ

Question 3

BMR

Estimates

Answer 3

Rough estimate for BMR: 1 kcal/hr/kg

Another version often used in hospitals:

25 kcal/kg/24 hrs

Question 4

Prenancy

Folate Supplementation

Answer 4

Folate supplementation recommended for all females who might get pregnant:

400 mcg/day

Question 5

Respiratory Quotinents

Answer 5

RQ values for burning

100% fat: 0.7

100% carbohydrates: 1.0

Significance of RQ > 1: excessive calories, fat synthesis

Significance of RQ

Question 6

Macronutrient

Calorie Content

Answer 6

kcal/g for

Fat: 9

CHO: 4

protein: 4

ethanol: 7

Question 7

Weight Loss

Answer 7

Energy deficit of 3,500 kcal/lb of body weight needed for weight loss

Question 8

PARs

Answer 8

Approximate PARs for

light exercise: 1-2

moderate exercise: 2-4

heavy exercise: 4-15

Question 9

Thermic Effect

Answer 9

Thermic effect as % of calories ingested:

10%

Question 10

Injury Factors

Answer 10

Approximate injury factors for

trauma: 1.4

sepsis: 1.6

burns: 2.1

Question 11

Fiber RDA

Answer 11

20-35 g/day

Question 12

Cholesterol RDA

Answer 12

Recommended dietary cholesterol intake < 300 mg/day

Question 13

Fat Recommendations

Answer 13

50% of total fat as MUFA

< 7% of total calories as saturated fats

If possible, no more than 8-10% of total calories

Question 14

Sodium Recommendations

Answer 14

Dietary sodium intake: < 2,300 mg/day

Question 15

Protein Recommendations

Answer 15

Protein for healthy adults: 0.8 g/kg/d

Effect of illness on protein requirements.

e.g. up to 2 g/kg/d for burn patients

Question 16

Nitrogen Content

Answer 16

Nitrogen constitutes ~ 16% protein by mass

Question 17

Nitrogen Balance Equation

Answer 17

Nitrogen balance = intake (g/24h) - (UUN (g/24h) + 4g)

Applies when UUN is the measured quantity.

Question 18

Serum Albumin

Answer 18

Normal serum albumin levels:

3.5 - 5.5 g/dL

Question 19

Weight Categorizations

Answer 19

Adult BMI values:

normal = 18.5 - 24.9 (may be up to 27 for some groups)

overweight: 25-29.9

obese: 30-39.9

severely obese: ≥ 40

Children’s Growth Charts:

85th → 95th %le: overweight

> 95th %ile: obese

Question 20

Fasting Glucose

Answer 20

Normal fasting BGL: 70 - 110 mg/dL (now 100 by ADA)

Conversions:

(mM x 18) = mg/dL

mg/dL/18 = mM

Question 21

Malnutrition

Answer 21

An unintentional weight loss of > 10% in 6 months.

Question 22

Waist Size

Answer 22

Waist size as a criterion for obesity:

all women: waist > 35.5 inches

men under 40: waist > 40 inches

men 40 or older: waist > 36 inches

Question 23

Transferrin Saturation

Interpretation

Answer 23

Percent of transferrin saturation:

<25%: iron deficient

25-50%: normal

>50%: hemochromatosis