New Study Challenges Paracetamol–Autism Link, Reaffirming Doctor Recommendations
Geneva, Switzerland – September 26, 2024 – A large-scale study published in JAMA is offering fresh reassurance to pregnant women regarding the use of paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen. Analyzing data from 2.5 million children, the research demonstrates “no link between taking paracetamol by the mother and risks of autism, ADHD and intellectual disability,” according to reports. This finding arrives amidst ongoing debate and public concern fueled by earlier studies suggesting a potential connection.
The controversy surrounding paracetamol use during pregnancy stems from a 2021 publication in Nature Reviews Endocrinology by a group of approximately one hundred researchers and doctors. This platform advocated for adapting recommendations to pregnant women to minimize paracetamol use until further research clarified its effects on fetal development, stating, “We recommend informing pregnant women, from the start of pregnancy, that paracetamol should be avoided unless medical indication.”
Earlier studies had raised questions. A 2015 study in Autism Research, utilizing the Danish health database, suggested the risk of autism was halved in children whose mothers consumed paracetamol during pregnancy. Further, a 2015 compilation of around forty studies published in Environmental Health also defended the possibility of a link.However, many researchers caution that these studies, both supporting and opposing the hypothesis, are limited by methodological imperfections and do not establish definitive cause-and-effect relationships.
The World Health Association (WHO) summarized the current state of evidence on Tuesday, September 23, stating, “Some observation studies have suggested a possible association between prenatal exposure to paracetamol and autism, but the evidence remains incoherent.”
While the new JAMA study offers notable reassurance, medical authorities emphasize responsible use. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) maintains its existing recommendations: “Paracetamol can be taken during pregnancy… It must be used at the lowest dose that remains effective, the shortest and the least frequently as possible.”
Importantly,experts stress that the primary risks associated with paracetamol use during pregnancy relate to overdose and potential liver damage. Paracetamol remains the safest painkiller option for pregnant women when compared to alternatives like aspirin or ibuprofen, which are strongly discouraged late in pregnancy due to risks of fetal death or malformations.
