Evidence ‘does not show clear link between paracetamol, autism and ADHD’
Existing evidence does not show a clear link between taking paracetamol in pregnancy and autism and ADHD in children, an in-depth review has concluded.
Researchers trawled all studies on the issue and concluded they were low quality, with “low to critically low” confidence in any findings suggesting a link.
US President Donald Trump said in September there has been a “meteoric rise” in cases of autism and that Tylenol – which is called paracetamol in the UK – was a potential cause.
He said the painkiller should not be taken during pregnancy, suggesting pregnant women should “tough it out”.
His comments were criticised by autism campaigners and scientists in the UK and around the world.
Now in a new study, published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), experts including from the universities of Liverpool and Birmingham concluded that women should continue to be advised to take paracetamol when needed to treat pain and fever in pregnancy.
They said there was a “lack of robust evidence linking paracetamol use in pregnancy and autism and ADHD in offspring”.
Furthermore, untreated fever, particularly in the first trimester, has been linked to an increased risk of miscarriage, birth defects and premature birth – underlining the need for women to be able to take paracetamol.
The team also suggested that any apparent link between paracetamol and autism and ADHD in previous studies may be driven by shared genetic and environmental factors within families.
For the latest study, researchers examined nine systematic reviews that included a total of 40 observational studies reporting on paracetamol use during pregnancy and the risk of autism, ADHD, or other neurodevelopmental outcomes.
All reviews reported a possible to strong association between a mother’s paracetamol intake and autism or ADHD, or both, in children, but seven of the nine reviews advised caution when interpreting the findings.
Experts
Overall, experts in the BMJ concluded that confidence in the findings of these reviews was low (for two reviews) to critically low (for seven reviews).
They added: “Existing evidence does not show a clear link between in utero exposure to paracetamol and autism and ADHD in offspring.
“Any apparent effect observed after in utero exposure to paracetamol on autism and ADHD in childhood might be driven by familial genetic and environmental factors and unmeasured confounders.”
Dimitrios Siassakos, professor in obstetrics and gynaecology from University College London, said: “The high-quality methodology used in this new umbrella review confirms what experts around the globe have been saying.
“The evidence that links paracetamol use in pregnancy to autism is tenuous and those studies which do report an association are confounded by the association of autism or ADHD with factors shared by families such as genetics and lifestyle.”
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
But Frump said there was a link so it has to be true and this research is completely and utterly wrong.
Are you an expert in the field?
I think he’s being sarcastic. 😉
The misspelling of the name was meant to be the clue.
Probably not but the writers of this review certainly are.
Are you interested in facts?
Trump isn’t, nor is RFK or Farage and they all started this terrible take. Farage platforms an anti vaxxer at the reforms conference.
This referencing from politicos lead to deaths.
I wish they’d phrased it differently. ‘no clear link’ won’t satisfy anyone, not that there’s much chance of anyone changing their mind on the subject.
Which other painkillers can pregnant women take?
Strange question. They can take whatever they want to.
No, they can’t. Not without actually harming their unborn child or inducing a miscarriage. That is why for pain relief, pregnant women are only advised to take paracetamol.
I know all that. That’s not what you asked, although I wouldn’t presume to tell pregnant people what to do with their own bodies.
I don’t know many pregnant women who want to have an unhealthy child.
Well exactly. They can make their own informed choices about the levels of risk they deem acceptable in various contexts.
Though I find this paracetamol thing deeply offensive because, as an autistic person, it paints me as an adverse event to be avoided.
Agreed.
Oh for gods sake, trump is a freakn idiot, his medical head in the US, RFK, is off the scale nuts and ex druggy with addled brains, farage repeats this rubbish as the good little owned lad he is. Now amplified by trump and farage useful idiots on the socials. Top tip. Don’t take anything trump says as real. He is a liar and a cheat (proven in court) and by his own words demonstrates no grasp of any facts. RFK is off the charts bonkers. Nothing he says is real. And their little toady in the UK, he will… Read more »