Using the NPC method, the patient's protein requirement is expressed as which of the following?

Using the NPC method, the patient's protein requirement is expressed as which of the following?

• A. 0.4 gram/kDBW/day
• B. 0.6 gram/kDBW/day
• C. 0.8 gram/kDBW/day
• D. 1.0 gram/kDBW/day

Answer: (C)

In the NPC method, protein needs are expressed as grams of protein per kilogram of dry body weight per day. This approach ties protein provision to the patient’s body mass while treating non-protein calories (from carbohydrates and fats) as the energy source that spares amino acids for tissue synthesis. When energy needs are met with non-protein calories, about 0.8 g of protein per kg of dry body weight per day is typically enough to maintain nitrogen balance in adults. Values lower than this (0.4 or 0.6 g/kg/day) would not meet maintenance needs, while 1.0 g/kg/day is usually reserved for more severe catabolic states or specific clinical situations. Therefore, the expressed protein requirement under the NPC method is 0.8 g/kDBW/day.

In the NPC method, protein needs are expressed as grams of protein per kilogram of dry body weight per day. This approach ties protein provision to the patient’s body mass while treating non-protein calories (from carbohydrates and fats) as the energy source that spares amino acids for tissue synthesis. When energy needs are met with non-protein calories, about 0.8 g of protein per kg of dry body weight per day is typically enough to maintain nitrogen balance in adults. Values lower than this (0.4 or 0.6 g/kg/day) would not meet maintenance needs, while 1.0 g/kg/day is usually reserved for more severe catabolic states or specific clinical situations. Therefore, the expressed protein requirement under the NPC method is 0.8 g/kDBW/day.