British scientists have criticised reports from the United States (US) suggesting paracetamol taken during pregnancy may cause autism, warning that such claims are unfounded and could harm women and families.
The Wall Street Journal reported that US health secretary Robert Kennedy Jr is preparing to declare that Tylenol – the American brand name for paracetamol – might be linked to autism.
The report also suggested that a specific form of folate will be recommended as a treatment. Former president Donald Trump, speaking at a weekend rally, declared: “I think we found an answer to autism.”
UK specialists insist no such link exists. The NHS continues to advise that paracetamol is the safest pain relief option during pregnancy and poses no risk to the baby.
Associate professor of social and developmental psychology at Durham University, Dr Monique Botha, said the evidence does not support a connection.
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She pointed to a major Swedish study published in 2024 that examined 2.4 million births and found no association between prenatal paracetamol use and autism, ADHD or intellectual disability.
There is no robust evidence or convincing studies to suggest there is any causal relationship and any conclusions being drawn to the contrary are often motivated, under-evidenced, and unsupported by the most robust methods to answering this question.
“There is no robust evidence or convincing studies to suggest there is any causal relationship,” she said. “Similarly, pain relief for pregnant women is woefully lacking and paracetamol is a much safer pain relief option during pregnancy than basically any other alternative and we need to take pain seriously for women, including whilst pregnant.”
An obstetrics and gynaecology specialist at University College London and consultant at UCLH, Prof Dimitrios Siassakos, added that genetic and medical factors, such as complications during birth, are far more significant in the development of autism.
He stressed that once family history and other influences are considered, any supposed link with paracetamol disappears.
He warned that focusing on the drug “risk preventing families from using one of the safest medications to use in pregnancy when needed.”
