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Respiratory Quotient

Ratio revealing which fuel is being metabolized.

Formula

RQ=CO2 producedO2 consumedRQ = \frac{CO_2\text{ produced}}{O_2\text{ consumed}}

Variables

CO_2Produced
O_2Consumed

Example

Carbs ~1.0, fats ~0.7

Did You Know?

A respiratory quotient near 0.7 means fat burning, while 1.0 signals pure carbohydrate metabolism.

physiology