CRDA: Carbohydrate Diet Classifications Table (2023)

Carbohydrate Diet Classification¹

The minimum amount of carbohydrates (CHO) in the diet recommended by the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) is 130g/day CHO, which is the amount of glucose required for brain functions.² This amount is generally exceeded to achieve a healthy balance of the three macronutrients, CHO, protein and fat and meet energy needs. For a given (constant) calorie intake, a modification in the amount of one of the three macronutrients (i.e., CHO, protein, or fat), necessarily changes the proportion of the other two macronutrients. Thus, CHO-restricted (CHO/R) diets may include higher amounts of protein or higher amounts of fat for a given energy intake.³

The NAM recommendations for an acceptable macronutrient distribution range for healthy adults is 45% to <65% CHO.^2,4,5 This range of CHO is sometimes referred to as a high CHO diet (HCD). As a percentage of total daily calories, diets with >65% CHO are considered very-high CHO diets (VHCD). Diets with <45% CHO are considered CHO/R,4 and sometimes referred to as low CHO diets (LCD). CHO/R diets can range from <45% to <10% CHO. Dietary intakes of <10% CHO and <50 g/day CHO are ketogenic,^4,5 regardless of total energy intake.

There is no universally accepted definition of an LCD.^4,5 Proposed definitions for different classifications of CHO/R diets have been made by Kirkpatrick et al,⁴ and adapted by Handu and Piemonte¹ as follows:

Diet classifications based on % total daily energy intake (TDEI) and total grams CHO per day
Diet	CHO (% TDEI)	CHO (g/d)	PRO (% TDEI)	PRO (g/d)	FAT (% TDEI)	Fat (G/d)
VHCD^a	> 65%	>325g	10 to 30%	-	5 to 25%	-
HCD^a	45 to <65%	225 to <325g	10 to 30%	-	25 to 35%	-
MCD^a	26 to <45%	120 to <225g	10 to 30%	-	25 to 35%	-
LCD^a	>10 to <26%	>50 to <130g	10 to 30%	-	25 to 45%	-
VLCD^a	<10%	<50g	-		-
VLCKD^a,c	<10%	<20 to 50g	~10%	1.2 to 1.5 g/kg	70 to 80%	-
Classic KD^a	3%	<50%	7%		90%
VLED^d,e	Varies	Varies (typically <20 to 80g)	-	Varies (typically 0.8 to 1.5g/kg IBW)	-	Varies (typically 15 to 30g)
VLEKD^g	Varies	<50g
CHO=carbohydrate; d=day; HCD=high carbohydrate diet; g=grams; IBW=ideal body weight; KD=ketogenic diet; kg=kilogram; LCD=low carbohydrate diet; MCD=moderate carbohydrate diet; PRO=protein; TDEI=total daily energy intake; VLED=very low energy diet; VLCD=very-low carbohydrate diet; VLCKD=very-low carbohydrate ketogenic diet; VHCD=very-high carbohydrate diet.
a=Based on 2,000 kcal reference diet. b=Amount of CHO required to induce ketosis in most people. c=Also called very-low carbohydrate, high fat ketogenic diet (VLCHFKD) d=Also called very-low-calorie diet. Contains ≤ 800 kcals/d (typically 450-800 kcals). e=Protein sparing modified fast (PSMF) is a type of VLED which contains <20 to 50g CHO/d, 1.2-1.5 g/kg protein/d and <10 to 15% TDEI fat. f=May be ketogenic if <50g CHO only. >50g CHO is not considered ketogenic. g=Also called very-low-calorie, ketogenic diet. Contains ≤ 800 kcals/d (typically 450-800 kcals)

References:

Handu D, Piemonte T. Dietary Approaches and Health Outcomes: An Evidence Analysis Center Scoping Review. Supl Table 2. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2022 Jul; 122(7): 1,375-1,393.e9. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2021.08.106. Epub 2021 Nov 10. PMID: 35577747.
Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein, and Amino Acids. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press; 2005.
Freire R. Scientific evidence of diets for weight loss: Different macronutrient composition, intermittent fasting, and popular diets. Nutrition. 2020; 69: 110549.
Kirkpatrick CF, Bolick JP, Kris-Etherton PM, et al. Review of current evidence and clinical recommendations on the effects of low-carbohydrate and very-low-carbohydrate (including ketogenic) diets for the management of body weight and other cardiometabolic risk factors: A scientific statement from the National Lipid Association Nutrition and Lifestyle Task Force. J Clin Lipid 2019; 13(5): 689-711.e681.