American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam (ABS QE) Practice Test

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What does an RQ equal to 0.825 signify?

Only carbohydrates are being metabolized
Lipid metabolism
Balanced nutrition
Excessive protein utilization

The correct answer is: Balanced nutrition

An RQ, or respiratory quotient, is the ratio of carbon dioxide produced to oxygen consumed during metabolism. An RQ of 0.825 suggests a mixed substrate metabolism, typically indicating that the body is utilizing a combination of carbohydrates and fats for energy. This value is reflective of balanced nutrient usage rather than being solely reliant on one source, such as carbohydrates or proteins. Specifically, RQs closer to 1.0 generally indicate that carbohydrates are predominantly being metabolized, while values around 0.7 suggest fat metabolism. A value of 0.825 falls in between these, showing that the body is drawing on both energy sources in a balanced manner. Thus, it signifies a state of balanced nutrition, where the body is efficiently using a mix of macronutrients. The other options reflect states of metabolism that are not consistent with the RQ value of 0.825, as they either imply exclusive utilization of one macronutrient or an imbalance in nutritional intake.