Prime Highlights:
- New research finds no strong evidence linking paracetamol use during pregnancy with autism or ADHD in children.
- Experts reassure pregnant women that paracetamol is generally safe when used as recommended.
Key Facts:
- The BMJ review analysed nine previous studies and found many did not account for important health, lifestyle, or environmental factors.
- Seven of the nine reviews cautioned that their findings should be interpreted carefully due to possible bias and other influencing factors.
Background:
A comprehensive new review has found no clear evidence that taking paracetamol during pregnancy increases the risk of autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. The findings, published in The BMJ, aim to clarify a debate sparked in September when former US President Donald Trump linked the common painkiller to these conditions.
Researchers from major universities and institutions in the United Kingdom, Spain, and Australia analysed nine systematic reviews on the topic to assess the quality and reliability of the evidence. Although earlier reviews suggested a link between paracetamol and child development, many didn’t consider important health or lifestyle factors.
Seven of the nine also warned their results should be viewed with caution. In studies that did account for these factors, the association between paracetamol use and autism or ADHD either disappeared or was significantly reduced.
“Confidence in the current evidence is low to critically low,” said Shakila Thangaratinam, a women’s health professor at the University of Liverpool and one of the study’s authors. She emphasised that making health policy decisions based on inconclusive evidence can have serious consequences, particularly for women during pregnancy.
Paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen, remains one of the few over-the-counter medications recommended for pregnant women to treat pain and fever safely. The study highlights the need for more high-quality research to understand how timing and duration of paracetamol exposure may affect foetal development, while taking genetic and environmental factors into account.
“This review reinforces the importance of prioritising research on women’s health and ensuring decisions are guided by robust evidence,” Thangaratinam added.
