Question

What is RQ for human fat?

• A. 0.673
• B. 0.655
• C. 0.703
• D. 0.825

Answer 1

The correct option is C 0.703

When fats are used in respiration, the RQ is less than 1. Calculations for a fatty acid, tripalmitin, if used as a substrate is shown :

$\underset{Tripalmitin}{2\left(C_{51}{H}_{98}{O}_6\right)+145O_2}\to 102C{O}_2+98H_{2}O+energy$

$RQ=\frac{102C{O}_2}{145O_2}=0.7$

1. RQ value is Respiratory quotient or Respiratory ratio. The ratio of the volume of carbon dioxide evolved to the volume of oxygen consumed in respiration is called respiration ratio. The RQ value depends on the type of respiratory substrate
2. When fats are used in respiration, the RQ is 0.7 to 0.8.
So the correct option is '0.703'