The respiratory quotient (RQ) is the ratio of the rate of carbon dioxide production over the rate of oxygen uptake. An RQ of 0.75 to 0.85 is ideal. The RQ is dependent on the composition of nutritional suppo. An RQ of 0.7 indicates a diet comprised largely of lipids. An RQ of 1 or greater indicates a diet comprising primarily carbohydrates, which can impair weaning from the ventilator. Decreasing the carbohydrates in the enteral feeds would facilitate the patient's ventilator wean. Changing ventilator settings by decreasing the inspired concentration of oxygen or the rate may be indicated as pa of the ventilator wean, but these will not affect the RQ.