1. A method for determining a tube current profile for recording of at least one X-ray image of a body region of a patient with an X-ray image recording device, the x-ray image recording device including a processor and a memory, the method comprising: acquiring, via an optical sensor, an image having a field of view including at least the body region of the patient to be depicted via an X-ray image; determining, via the processor, at least one piece of patient-specific, body-related information for the patient from the acquired image; selecting a reference dataset from a plurality of reference datasets based on the at least one piece of the patient-specific, body-related information, the reference datasets each including data on a reference patient; compiling at least one virtual topogram corresponding to a respective X-ray projection direction from the selected reference dataset; determining, via the processor, an X-ray attenuation distribution of the patient, at least for the body region to be depicted via the X-ray image, with reference to the at least one virtual topogram; determining, via the processor, the tube current profile with reference to the X-ray attenuation distribution such that the tube current profile is determined without exposing the patient to x-rays; and setting, via the processor, a tube current of an imaging system based on the tube current profile.