TNP 101: Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) The Role of Dextrose

In TPN, Dextrose serves as the primary carbohydrate source.

As a simple sugar, dextrose is easily metabolized into glucose, fueling critical physiological functions such as brain activity, cellular repair, and immune response. It plays a central role in preserving protein stores by supplying the calories the body would otherwise draw from muscle tissue. The amount of dextrose included in a TPN formula is carefully tailored to each patient’s needs—ensuring a balance between adequate energy provision and metabolic stability.

Carbohydrates like dextrose may be simple in structure, but they’re essential to keeping the body running strong.

What questions do you have about carbohydrates or energy needs in TPN?