Paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen, is widely available over-the-counter and is considered safe for treating fever, headaches, and mild pain during pregnancy.
Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, US, analysed 46 previously published studies involving over 100,000 participants across several countries. The findings, published in the journal BioMed Central, indicated that higher-quality studies were more likely to show a link between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and increased risks of autism and ADHD.
“Given the widespread use of this medication, even a small increase in risk could have major public health implications,” said lead author Diddier Prada, Assistant Professor of Population Health Science and Policy, Environmental Medicine and Climate Science at Mount Sinai.
Possible Biological Mechanisms
The researchers noted that paracetamol can cross the placental barrier and may cause oxidative stress, disrupt hormonal balance, and trigger epigenetic changes that interfere with foetal brain development.
With cases of autism and ADHD rising globally, the findings could have important implications for public health policy, clinical guidelines, and patient awareness, the authors said.
While the study does not prove that paracetamol causes these disorders, the evidence strengthens the suspected connection and underscores the need for caution.
The researchers recommended time-limited, medically supervised use of paracetamol during pregnancy and called for further large-scale studies to confirm the link.
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