TPN Macronutrient Calculator
Compute total parenteral nutrition macronutrient delivery from prescribed dextrose, amino-acid (protein), and lipid grams (and volumes).
Open the calculator → Runs in your browser. Data leaves only if you deliberately send a problem report from the interactive tool.
Example
- Final volume
- 1500 mL
- Dextrose
- 20
- Amino acid
- 5
- 20% lipid
- 10
Result: 1620 kcal: 300 g dextrose / 75 g protein / 30 g lipid
The tool opens with these values already filled in. Replace them with your own.
What you enter
- Final volume
- Dextrose (% final)
- Amino acid (% final)
- 20% lipid (mL as % of final volume)
What this is
Sophie Well returns total kilocalories, the breakdown by source, and the percentage of non-protein calories from carbohydrate vs. fat, using the standard caloric densities: dextrose 3.4 kcal/g (the monohydrate value used in TPN, not the 4 kcal/g of dietary carbohydrate), amino acids 4 kcal/g, and 20% lipid emulsion 2 kcal/mL.
When to use it
Use this when writing or reviewing a TPN order to verify that the bag the pharmacy will compound delivers the prescribed calorie and protein target, that the dextrose infusion rate (GIR in mg/kg/min) sits below the conventional 4-5 mg/kg/min ceiling for adults, and that lipid load is within the typical 1 g/kg/day range. The macronutrient math is mechanical; the clinical decisions around TPN (when to start, when to stop, electrolyte and micronutrient additions, refeeding-syndrome monitoring, transition to enteral nutrition) belong with the nutrition-support team and the institutional TPN protocol. For neonatal and pediatric TPN, the per-kg targets and the GIR ceilings are different and dedicated peds-nutrition resources should drive the order.
How this is calculated
Dextrose 3.4 kcal/g; protein 4 kcal/g; lipid (20% emulsion) 2 kcal/mL.
Source: Standard nutrition references
A reference and educational tool. Not medical, legal, or financial advice, and not a substitute for clinician judgment.
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