Respiratory Quotient (RQ)

Respiratory quotient is the ratio of carbon dioxide (CO2) produced to oxygen consumed (O2). The normal value is .8

For patients where CO2 retention is a concern such as intubated  and ventilated patients (i.e., patients on the breathing machine), decreasing calorie intake from carbohydrates and increasing calorie intake from fats will decrease CO2 production and decrease the RQ