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(NewsNation) — A new review has found no clear link between taking paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen, during pregnancy and a child’s risk of developing autism or ADHD.
The findings, published Sunday in the BMJ, come after President Donald Trump warned that using Tylenol during pregnancy can cause autism in children. Trump’s claim is unproven and lacks scientific evidence.
Researchers from the University of Liverpool examined nine systematic reviews covering 40 observational studies on paracetamol use in pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children. They concluded that the overall quality of evidence connecting paracetamol to neurodevelopmental disorders is “low to critically low.”
“We have shown that based on current evidence, there is no clear link between women taking paracetamol during pregnancy and a diagnosis of autism or ADHD in their children,” said study lead and University of Liverpool professor Shakila Thangaratinam. “The findings should help healthcare professionals give evidence-based advice to women, and reassure mothers about the use of paracetamol during pregnancy if indicated.”
The review found any associations reported in earlier studies were likely influenced by genetic and environmental factors shared within families, such as parental mental health or lifestyle.
Researchers noted that only two studies properly adjusted for family-related factors, and when they did, any apparent connection between acetaminophen and developmental disorders disappeared or was significantly reduced.
While researchers acknowledge that more high-quality studies are needed, they stress that the current body of evidence does not support paracetamol use in pregnancy.
Trump’s warning on Tylenol during pregnancy
Trump has urged pregnant women not to take acetaminophen — one of the most widely used medications in the world — for pain relief because of a potential risk of autism, despite no new evidence proving the drug directly causes it.
Acetaminophen has been seen as the safest pain medication for pregnant women to take.
Both the World Health Organization and the European Union have refuted Trump’s assertion that acetaminophen may cause conditions like autism and ADHD when taken by pregnant women. The FDA acknowledged that “a causal relationship has not been established” in public statements following Trump’s initial plea.
Medical organizations have also backed acetaminophen as safe for pregnant women, including both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.
However, Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said last month that the FDA would begin updating the label on acetaminophen and notifying physicians that Tylenol “can be associated with a very increased risk of autism.”
Tylenol maker Kenvue called on the FDA to pull back on the proposed safety label change. The current label instructs people who are pregnant or breastfeeding to “ask a health professional before use.”
The Hill contributed to this report.
