Major Review Debunks Paracetamol and Neurodevelopmental Link
A significant new analysis has concluded there is no clear evidence connecting paracetamol use during pregnancy with the development of autism or ADHD in children. This comprehensive review, published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), examined all available research on the subject and found the quality of existing studies to be generally poor.
Scrutinising the Evidence
Researchers from the Universities of Liverpool and Birmingham conducted an in-depth analysis of nine systematic reviews. These encompassed a total of 40 observational studies that investigated a potential connection between paracetamol use in pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcomes like autism and ADHD.
While most of the original reviews noted a possible association, seven of the nine urged caution in interpreting these findings. The new umbrella review went further, assigning the confidence in these findings as "low to critically low" due to methodological weaknesses in the underlying research.
Context of Trump's Comments and Medical Guidance
The publication of this review follows controversial remarks made by US President Donald Trump in September. He suggested that Tylenol, known as paracetamol in the UK, was behind a "meteoric rise" in autism cases and advised pregnant women to avoid it and "tough out" pain. These comments were widely criticised by autism campaigners and scientists globally.
In contrast, the new BMJ study offers clear guidance. It states that women should continue to be advised to take paracetamol when necessary to treat pain and fever during pregnancy. The researchers emphasised the "lack of robust evidence" supporting a direct link.
Why Paracetamol Use Remains Important
The review underscores a critical medical point: untreated fever, particularly in the first trimester, is itself a known risk factor. It has been linked to an increased chance of miscarriage, birth defects, and premature birth. This highlights the importance of having a safe and effective way to manage fever during pregnancy.
The research team proposed an alternative explanation for any faint links seen in past studies. They suggested that shared genetic and environmental factors within families might be the true drivers of any apparent connection, rather than the paracetamol itself.
Professor Dimitrios Siassakos, from University College London, supported the findings, stating the high-quality methodology confirms that the evidence linking paracetamol to autism is "tenuous" and likely confounded by familial factors.
