A ketogenic diet to help control seizures can be calculated based on a person's age, gender and weight.
Steps:
(1) Determine the daily caloric intake for the patient.
(2) Decide on the ratio of fat intake in grams to other nutrients.
|
Ratio |
Grams Fat |
Kcals from Fat |
Grams Protein and Carbohydrate |
Kcals from Protein and Carbohydrate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4:1 |
4 |
39 |
1 |
4 |
|
3:1 |
3 |
27 |
1 |
4 |
|
2:1 |
2 |
18 |
1 |
4 |
where:
• 1 gram fat provides 9 Kcals; 1 gram of protein or carbohydrate provides 4 Kcal
For the diets:
total caloric intake in Kcal per day =
= ((grams of protein and carbohydrate) * (4 Kcal per gram)) + ((ratio factor for fat) * (grams of protein and carbohydrate) * (9 Kcal per gram fat))
|
Ratio |
Daily Grams Fat |
Daily Grams of Protein and Carbohydrate |
|---|---|---|
|
4:1 |
4 * (total calories) / 40 |
(total calories) / 40 |
|
3:1 |
3 * (total calories) / 31 |
(total calories) / 31 |
|
2:1 |
2 * (total calories) / 22 |
(total calories) / 22 |
Sometimes corn oil is used as the source of fat. This has a caloric value of 8 Kcal per gram. If this is used, the assigned number of fat grams need to be multiplied by 1.125.
The protein intake should be at least the minimum recommended in the RDA.
|
|
Minimum Protein Intake in g/kg per day |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Age of the Patient |
Male |
Female |
|
< 6 months |
2.2 |
2.2 |
|
6 -12 months |
1.6 |
1.6 |
|
1 - 3 years |
1.2 |
1.2 |
|
4 - 6 years |
1.1 |
1.1 |
|
7 - 10 years |
1.0 |
1.0 |
|
11 - 14 years |
1.0 |
1.0 |
|
15 - 18 years |
0.9 |
0.8 |
|
19 - 24 years |
0.8 |
0.8 |
|
25 - 50 years |
0.8 |
0.8 |
|
>= 51 years |
0.8 |
0.8 |
from RDA 10th Edition
grams of carbohydrate per day =
= (daily grams of protein and carbohydrate) - (daily protein intake in grams)
Once the total intake for fats, carbohydrates and protein has been calculated, then the calories are distributed into 3 meals and the snacks taken.
Specialty: Nutrition
