A large-scale study has shown that taking paracetamol (the active ingredient in Tylenol) during pregnancy is not associated with an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder in children.
Researchers analyzed data from more than 1.5 million children born in Denmark between 1997 and 2022, and found that prenatal exposure to paracetamol did not show any statistically significant increase in the risk of autism.
In the initial analysis at the general population level, a slight increase in risk of about 3% was recorded, but it was not statistically significant, and this signal disappeared after adjusting for influencing factors such as maternal age, income, smoking, health conditions, and other medications.
The researchers also conducted a sibling analysis, comparing children from the same family where one child was exposed to paracetamol during pregnancy and the other was not. This analysis also showed no significant association between the drug and the risk of autism, further ruling out a causal link.
These results are consistent with a Swedish study that also found no evidence of a causal relationship between paracetamol use during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Dr. Kira Philipsen Brahm, a researcher at Rigshospitalet University Hospital in Copenhagen and the lead author of the study, said that the recent controversy and political statements on the subject prompted researchers to conduct a broad and thorough analysis to clarify the scientific picture.
She added that the study relied on national prescription records to determine only prescribed paracetamol use, while it did not include over-the-counter use, which is most common among pregnant women.
The children were followed from the age of one year until 2023 or until they were diagnosed with autism, taking into account many influencing factors, without finding any link between the drug and the disorder.
According to the results, about 1.8% of children who were exposed to paracetamol during pregnancy were later diagnosed with autism, compared to about 3% in the unexposed group, but this difference did not hold up after advanced statistical analysis.
Despite these findings, autism spectrum disorder remains a complex medical topic.
Research indicates that genetic factors play the biggest role in the risk of developing autism, with an estimated 60% to 90% of cases linked to genes, while research continues into other potential factors before and during pregnancy.
In this context, medical authorities confirm that paracetamol, when used according to instructions, is a safe option for pain relief and fever reduction during pregnancy, which is in line with current medical recommendations.
The study was published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.
