RESPIRATORY QUOTIENT AND METABOLIC RATE IN NORMAL FULL-TERM AND SMALL-FOR-DATE NEWBORN INFANTS1

Respiratory quotient and gaseous metabolism were measured in normal full-term and small-for-date infants during the first week of life. In both groups RQ dropped during the first day and rose again during the next few days. However, the RQ was lower during the first 5 days in small-for-date infants. The O₂ uptake of the small-for-date babies is initially lower but rises during the first 5 days. Technical problems and clinical implications of the results are discussed.