A major European review finds no link between paracetamol use in pregnancy and autism or ADHD, offering reassurance to expectant mothers.
LONDON: Taking paracetamol, known as Tylenol in the United States, during pregnancy is safe according to a comprehensive review by European researchers.
The team compiled high-quality evidence to address claims of a link to autism made by US President Donald Trump last year.
Lead author Professor Asma Khalil stated the key message is one of reassurance for pregnant women.
“Paracetamol is safe to use in pregnancy,” said Khalil, a professor of obstetrics at St George’s, University of London.
“When used as recommended, the best available evidence does not support a causal link with autism, ADHD or intellectual disability.”
Khalil initiated the review after being questioned by patients following Trump’s September comments advising against the drug.
Medical groups globally had decried the president’s remarks as lacking an evidence base.
Paracetamol is the only pain reliever considered safe for pregnant women, with doctors advising minimal use for the shortest time.
Untreated pain and fever pose risks to both the mother and the developing baby.
The researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 43 existing studies on the topic.
They particularly focused on three large sibling comparison studies covering over 260,000 children assessed for autism.
These studies account for shared genetic and environmental factors within families.
The sibling studies showed no significant link between prenatal paracetamol use and autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability.
This finding held when results from all high-quality studies were pooled together.
Khalil noted that much prior work suggesting a potential link was prone to bias or confounding factors.
Professor Grainne McAlonan of King’s College London, who was not involved, praised the study for its rigorous methodology.
“I hope the findings of this study bring the matter to a close,” McAlonan said. – Reuters
