Zinc deficiency and school-age children’s memories

Zinc deficiency is associated with cognitive and motor delay in children. Moreover, it is associated with deficits in activity and attention in nutritional deficiency children. This study was conducted to evaluate the correlation between zinc deficiency with memory of children. A cross sectional study design was employed from June 1st to 30th, 2013 among school-age children in Klaten District, Central Java who met inclusion and exclusion criteria. Sixty five eligible children were assessed their health, socio-economic and nutritional status. Hemoglobin levels were measured by the standart cyanoblue method. Plasma zinc levels were analyzed with flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). Short-term memory (STM) was measured using the instrument Wechsler Intellegence Scale for Children (WISC0 subtest Digit Span Memory Test and long term memory (LTM) was assessed using the recall of narrative. Independent t-test was used to compare the STM or LTM between groups of each independent factors. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the independent factors associated with the STM or LTM. The STM scores of the children with zinc deficiency (6.1 ± 1.3) was significantly higher than those with normal zinc level (10.7 ± 3.1) [p=0.0004; 95%CI= -6.98 – (-2.14)]. However, the LTM for both group of the children were not significantly different (p=0.658; 95%CI= -3.16 – 2.01). A significant correlations between zinc levels, hemoglobin level and socio-economic status with the STM scores were observed (p<0.05), whereas nutritional status was not (p>0.05). In contrast, no significant correlations between zinc levels, hemoglobin levels, socio-economic status, nutritional status and the LTM scores was observed in the school age children (p>0.05). In conclusion, zinc deficiency is associated with STM loss in the school age children, however it is not associated with LTM loss. Moreover, hemoglobin level and socio-economic status are found to be independent factors for STM loss, however they are not independent factors for LTM loss