The protein contributes to the total energy intake in the following proportion:

Appeared in: NVS- 2025

Explanation

The standard dietary recommendation for protein intake is 10–15% of the total daily calories.
Proteins are vital for numerous body functions, including tissue growth and repair, and provide 4 kcal of energy per gram.
This range ensures adequate intake of essential amino acids for bodily functions without overburdening the kidneys with excess nitrogen waste.
Compared to carbohydrates (50-70%) and fats (20-30%), protein contributes the smallest percentage to total energy in a typical balanced diet.

Option B: This range (25–30%) is the recommended proportion for dietary fat intake, not protein.
Option C: This range (10–30%) is too broad. While some dietary models (like the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range or AMDR) allow for up to 35%, the standard, most commonly cited recommendation is a narrower 10-15%.
Option D: This high proportion (65–80%) is characteristic of carbohydrate intake, which is the body's main source of energy.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Macronutrient Distribution for Total Energy Intake as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses use this knowledge to provide dietary education to patients, helping them manage conditions like diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.
In clinical settings, assessing a patient's nutritional intake is crucial for recovery, especially in post-operative, burn, or malnourished patients, where protein needs may be higher.
What if? If a patient has chronic kidney disease (not on dialysis), their protein intake is often restricted to less than 10% of total calories to reduce the workload on the kidneys. Conversely, a patient with severe burns might need up to 20-25% of calories from protein to support tissue regeneration.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the core of the question: It asks for the standard percentage of daily energy that should come from protein.
This is a factual recall question based on fundamental nutritional guidelines.
Mentally review the recommended percentages for the three macronutrients.
Recall that carbohydrates are the primary energy source and have the highest percentage (around 50-70%).
Recall that fats are the next major contributor (around 20-30%).
Recall that protein contributes the smallest percentage for energy in a standard diet (around 10-15%).

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-232 of 464) p. 169-171

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 2 p. 502-504

Practise the full NVS- 2025

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