Design.

Cross-sectional and descriptive.

Method.

Urine samples were collected from 75 secondary-school students (43 boys and 32 girls, aged 16-18 years) in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. The samples were tested for HPL complex at the Centre for Environmental Medicine (Klinisch Ecologisch Allergie Centrum; KEAC) in Weert. Students also completed the ‘Abbreviated fatigue questionnaire’. A score of 21 points was considered the threshold for fatigue.

Results.

Of the 75 participants, 22 (29) had increased HPL complex excretion, including 15 boys (35) and 7 girls (22). Overall, 19 (25) had a fatigue score > 21: 16 boys (37) and 3 girls (9). There was no statistical relationship between increased HPL complex excretion and fatigue score.

Conclusion.

These findings do not support a relationship between fatigue and increased urinary HPL complex excretion.

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2007;151:2838-40