Scientists have dismissed warnings from Donald Trump linking paracetamol use during pregnancy to autism.
The US president made the allegation in September as he claimed there had been a “meteoric rise” in cases of autism.
Identifying the medication – known as Tylenol in the States – as a potential cause, Mr Trump suggested pregnant women should “tough it out”.
Now, after reviewing dozens of studies on the topic, experts have concluded there is “no clinically important” link between paracetamol use and autism.
For the review, scientists identified 43 studies concerning autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and intellectual disabilities.
Then they examined the outcome of pregnancies with and without paracetamol exposure, and found “paracetamol exposure during pregnancy was not associated with the risk of autism” or ADHD, or intellectual disabilities.
Lead author Asma Khalil of St George’s Hospital in London said: “We found no clinically important increase in the risk of autism, ADHD or intellectual disability among children where the mothers took paracetamol during pregnancy.
“And this is the important message to the millions of pregnant individuals – paracetamol is safe to use in pregnancy.
“It remains the first-line treatment that we would recommend if pregnant women have pain or fever, and it’s also consistent with recommendations or guidelines by various national or international bodies.”
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Grainne McAlonan, professor of translational neuroscience at King’s College London, highlighted that the review had also examined a number of sibling comparison studies.
These studies compared children born to the same mother, where she took paracetamol in one pregnancy, but did not in another.
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This “crucial” factor meant the review also accounted for family history, Professor McAlonan said.
She continued: “Expectant mothers do not need the stress of questioning whether medicine most commonly used for a headache could have far-reaching effects on their child’s health.
“While the impact of last year’s announcement has been extensive, I hope the findings of this study bring the matter to a close.”
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Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “This major review can, yet again, reassure mothers-to-be everywhere that there is no evidence whatsoever to link the use of paracetamol by pregnant women to autism, ADHD or disabilities in their children.
“Our country’s leading scientists, doctors and the NHS are clear that paracetamol is safe to take when pregnant and in pain or suffering a fever.”
The review was published in the journal, The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Women’s Health.
