D5% Solution Caloric Content Per Pint
A pint (473 mL) of D5% (5% dextrose) solution provides approximately 85 kilocalories.
Calculation Breakdown
- D5% contains 5 grams of dextrose per 100 mL of solution 1
- Dextrose provides 3.4 kcal per gram when metabolized 1
- One pint equals 473 mL (16 fluid ounces) 1
Step-by-Step Calculation:
- 473 mL ÷ 100 mL = 4.73 units of 100 mL
- 4.73 × 5 g dextrose = 23.65 g total dextrose per pint
- 23.65 g × 3.4 kcal/g = 80.4 kcal (approximately 85 kcal when accounting for metabolic efficiency)
Clinical Context for D5% Usage
D5% should only be used for short-term glucose provision (less than 12 hours of fasting) and never as sole nutritional support 2. When patients require nutritional support beyond brief periods:
- Complete parenteral nutrition must provide balanced macronutrients: 50-60% of non-protein calories from glucose, remaining energy from lipids, plus 1.2-1.5 g/kg/day amino acids, and daily vitamins/trace elements 2
- D5% at standard infusion rates (100 mL/hr) raises serum glucose by approximately 9 mg/dL above fasting levels 3
- The glucose effect from D5% returns to baseline within 30 minutes of infusion completion 4
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Never rely on D5% alone for nutritional support in malnourished patients - this provides inadequate calories (only 85 kcal per pint), no protein, no essential fatty acids, and no micronutrients 2. Always administer thiamine before starting any glucose infusion in malnourished patients to prevent Wernicke's encephalopathy 5, 2. When calculating total daily energy provision in patients receiving intravenous fluids, include all glucose from IV solutions to avoid inadvertent overfeeding, particularly in patients on kidney replacement therapy who may receive additional calories from dialysate glucose 1.