Association of Hair Zinc Level with Cognitive and Language Delays in Children Aged 9–24 Months Old

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Delay in cognitive and language development caused by multifactor including chronic deficiency of zinc. There were inconsistencies in previous studies between zinc levels and development. AIM: The study aims to prove low hair zinc level is associated with delays of cognitive and language development in children 9–24 months old. METHOD: This analytical observational study with case-control design, each group consisted of 69 children. Case group with cognitive and language development delays, Cognitive adaptive test/Clinical linguistic and auditory milestone <85 meanwhile control group with normal cognitive and language development. Chi-square test was used to assess association between zinc levels and incidence of cognitive and language delays. Multivariate analysis was performed by logistic regression. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed no association between low zinc level and delays of cognitive and language development meanwhile logistic regression showed screen time >2 h and lack of stimulation were risk factors (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.78; 95% Confidence interval [CI] 1.284–6.058; p = 0.010; adjusted OR 3.96; 95% CI 1.833–8.581; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: There is no relationship between low hair zinc level and delays in cognitive and language development, but there is an association between screen time more than 2 h and lack of stimulation with delays in cognitive and language development in children aged 9–24 months old.