Generally, how much protein is required daily for an adult per kilogram of body weight?

Appeared in: Punjab CHO - 2021

Explanation

The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein for a healthy, sedentary adult is 0.8 to 1.0 grams per kilogram of body weight per day.
The option of 1 gm/kg/day is the most accurate and commonly cited general guideline among the choices provided.
This intake level is sufficient to maintain nitrogen balance, support the repair and maintenance of body tissues, and ensure proper physiological function in healthy individuals.

Option B: This amount is double the standard recommendation for a general healthy adult.
Option C: This is a very high protein intake for a healthy adult and is not recommended for the general population.
Option D: This is an extremely high level of protein intake that is unnecessary and potentially harmful for a healthy adult.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Daily Protein Requirement for Adults as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses use this fundamental nutritional knowledge to assess a patient's dietary status, plan nutritional interventions, and provide patient education on healthy eating.
Recognizing signs of inadequate protein intake (e.g., edema, poor wound healing, muscle wasting/sarcopenia, weakened immunity) is a key nursing assessment skill.
What if? If the patient has chronic kidney disease (not on dialysis), the answer changes. Protein intake is often restricted to less than 0.8 g/kg/day to reduce the metabolic load on the kidneys and slow disease progression.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key components of the question: it asks for the 'general' daily protein requirement for a 'healthy adult'.
Recall the standard nutritional guidelines, specifically the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein.
The established RDA for protein is approximately 0.8 g/kg of body weight.
Evaluate the given options against this standard. The value '1 gm/kg/day' is the closest and most practical answer that aligns with the 0.8-1.0 g/kg range.
Mentally discard the higher values (2, 3, and 4 g/kg/day) as these are applicable to special populations with increased metabolic demands (e.g., athletes, critically ill patients), not the 'general adult'.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-232 of 464) p. 170-172

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 2 p. 524-526

E6 textbook of Applied Biochemistry and Nutrition & Dietetics 2nd Edition Harbans Lal (pp 26-464 of 479) p. 45-479

Practise the full Punjab CHO - 2021

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.