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

Which treatment is appropriate for an RQ indicating fat oxidation and ketosis?

1. Increase carbohydrates and calories

2. Decrease carbohydrates and calories

3. Maintain current dietary intake

4. Increase protein intake

The correct answer is: Decrease carbohydrates and calories

When a respiratory quotient (RQ) indicates fat oxidation and ketosis, it suggests that the body is primarily using fat as its fuel source instead of carbohydrates. This typically occurs in states of fasting, prolonged exercise, or low-carbohydrate, high-fat diets, where the body adapts to burn fat for energy, leading to the production of ketones. In this scenario, decreasing carbohydrates and calories would be appropriate because the goal is to further promote fat utilization and maintain the state of ketosis. Reducing carbohydrate intake limits the availability of glucose for energy, which encourages the body to continue utilizing fat stores instead. This can enhance fat oxidation and support sustained ketosis. In contrast, increasing carbohydrates and calories would provide more glucose for energy, shifting the body away from fat oxidation and potentially disrupting ketosis. Maintaining the current dietary intake may not yield the desired effect in promoting fat oxidation and ketosis, as it does not actively encourage further fat usage. Similarly, increasing protein intake alone does not directly facilitate fat oxidation; while protein is important for muscle maintenance and other bodily functions, its increase should be balanced with considerations of carbohydrate and fat intake in the context of ketosis. Thus, the most appropriate treatment in this context is to decrease carbohydrates and calories to support fat oxidation and sustain ketosis