What is the difference between RER and RQ?

RER and RQ are the short forms of Respiratory Exchange Ratio and Respiratory Quotients. The two terms are used interchangeably but they are not totally the same. RER is a scientific method which can be used to calculate the nature and the rate of substrate used by measuring the gas exchange. It is also used in calculating the difference between the amount of CO2 produced and the amount of oxygen used during respiration.

RQ, on the other hand, is used to calculate the metabolic rate. Most times, the ratio got after using RER can be used in calculating the Respiratory Quotient. Another difference is that RER is very easier to calculate when compared to RQ because you can easily calculate RER by measuring the amount of air entering the nose and the mouth. To calculate RQ is difficult because it has to do with the determination of the amount of CO2 produced and the amount of oxygen used at the cellular level.