Question

When Respiratory Quotient (RQ) is less than $0.1$ in a respiratory metabolism, it means that

• A. carbohydrates are used as respiratory substrate
• B. volume of carbon dioxide evolved is less than volume of oxygen consumed
• C. volume of carbon dioxide evolved is more than volume of oxygen consumed
• D. volume of carbon dioxide evolved is equal, to volume of oxygen consumed

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

When respiratory quotient (RQ) is less then one in a respiratory metabolism, it means that respiratory substrate is either fat or protein. Both of the respiratory substrate always possess respiratory quotient less than one $(0.5-0.9)$. If RQ.is one, then carbohydrates are used as respiratory substrate. When the volume of $C{O}_2$ evolved is more than the volume of oxygen consumed, then the respiratory substrates are organic acids, whose respiratory quotient is always more than one $(1.3-4.0)$.