A Research on the Level of Zinc and Copper in the Hair of Students with Lower IQ

Abstract

Background: The measurement of trace elements in human body has proved to be of great use in the evaluation of human health and the diagnosis of various diseases. No light, however, has been shed on these elements where they concern the human intelligence. Objectives:The goal is to make a comparison between the students with a lower IQ and those having an ordinary IQ in terms of the amount of zinc and copper as two trace elements. Methods: This is a case-control study and the subjects as the patients were chosen from mentally retarded students having no particular diseases. The sample size for the patient and control was 30 for each. The hair samples of the experimental group and the ordinary students (the control group) were digested with concentrated HNO3 after being washed with water and acetone. After being digested, the values of zinc and copper in the samples were measured with atomic absorption spectroscopy. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS-15 via two independent sample tests of significance tests.

Determination of Trace Elements in Hair Analysis Using ICP-Mass Spectrometry

“…Zinc is an important trace element for the immune system, neurogenesis, zinc deficiency can lead to poor cognitive performance, altered attention, and motor development, [19]. Zinc concentrations in the hair samples of learners with lower IQ were found to be lower (141.70 ± 88.56 µg / g) compared to regular students (198 ± 90.90 µg / g) in P = 0.01, and the copper level for the samples of the IQ lower group (11.90 ± 3.97 µg / g) compared to 13.23 ± 3.97 µg/ g for the control group at P = 0.18 without significant difference between the two groups, [20]. Nearly, 60% of magnesium ions are reserved in tissues and about 40% of magnesium ions chip in intermediary metabolism.…”

“…Copper and Zn have a significant role in a smooth full body function. Thus, the mean values of Zn and Cu in hair in patients with epilepsy were reduced, [18]. The mean values of the condensations of Mg, Zn, Cu (ppm) determined in the hair in pat its with epilepsy were much lower in comparison to the control group: 111.…”

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

“…The characteristics of both groups did not differ clinically, except for screen time and stimulation (Table 1). The age of the subjects in this study was not normally distributed with median age in case group 23 (9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24) months and control group 20 (9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24) months. The distribution of zinc level in this study was not normally distributed with the lowest concentration being 0 mg/kg (<0.0001) and the highest being 1108.0 mg/kg.…”

“…Differences in cognitive scores at the age of 12 months are thought to indicate differences in zinc level in brain tissue that affect cognitive and these differences cannot be evaluated through fluctuating zinc serum [41]. https://oamjms.eu/index.php/mjms/index Another study conducted in group girls aged 9-13 years also showed children with lower IQ level; the mean zinc level was also lower than the group of children with normal IQ level [23].…”

“…The role of zinc in brain has been proven as in a study in Iran girls aged 9-13 years, significant difference was found between the average level of zinc in hair and Intelligence Quotients (IQ) test scores [23]. Therefore, researchers are interested in conducting repeat study to determine the relationship between hair zinc level and delay of cognitive and language development in children aged 9-24 months in Indonesia, especially in Bali, which has high prevalence of zinc deficiency.…”