Washington [US], January 17: A large-scale, 'gold standard' meta-analysis recently published has concluded that the use of paracetamol during pregnancy does not increase the risk of children developing autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or intellectual disabilities.
This result directly refutes the controversial claim made by US President Donald Trump in September 2025, when he suggested that the popular painkiller paracetamol could cause autism, according to The Guardian on January 17.
The statement faced strong criticism from health organizations, scientists, and women's health advocacy groups worldwide, and sparked anxiety among pregnant women .
The study, published in the journal Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Women's Health , was conducted by a team of seven European scientists, led by Professor Asma Khalil, an expert in obstetrics and fetal medicine at City St George's, University of London (UK).
The authors reviewed 43 previous studies, with data from hundreds of thousands of children. These included 262,852 children monitored for autism, 335,255 for ADHD , and 406,681 for intellectual disabilities .
"This review and meta-analysis found no evidence that maternal use of paracetamol during pregnancy increases the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children," the report states. The authors assert that this is "the most rigorous evidence analysis to date" on this topic.
Professor Khalil emphasized: "The message is very clear: paracetamol remains a safe option during pregnancy when used correctly. It's the first-line medication we recommend for pregnant women with pain or fever, so they should feel reassured."
Without naming Trump specifically, the research team warned that avoiding paracetamol when pregnant women experience severe pain or high fever could pose a real risk to both mother and fetus, especially if the fever goes untreated.
Previously, in a White House press conference in September 2025, Trump stated that pregnant women "should not take Tylenol"-the trade name for paracetamol in the US-and indicated that his administration intended to ask doctors to advise against its use. According to new research, these claims are completely unfounded scientifically.
The authors suggest that the associations previously noted in several studies are more likely to reflect genetic and family environmental factors, rather than the direct effects of the medication. "The hereditary nature of autism traits within families is a more plausible explanation," the report states. Additionally, the mother's medical condition requiring prolonged paracetamol use may also play a more significant role than the medication itself.
Experts have welcomed the research findings. Professor Grainne McAlonan, a neuroscientist at King's College London (UK), expressed hope that these findings would "put an end to a long-standing debate."
Meanwhile, Dr. Steven Kapp, a psychology lecturer at the University of Portsmouth (UK), argues that society needs to stop seeking "misguided preventative measures" for developmental disabilities and focus more on improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
British Health Minister Wes Streeting also offered reassurance: "There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that paracetamol during pregnancy is linked to autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability. Doctors, scientists, and the National Health Service all agree that paracetamol is safe for pregnant women experiencing pain or fever."
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
