New Study Debunks Trump's Claims Linking Paracetamol in Pregnancy to Autism

email: online@newsofbahrain.com

New York: A major new scientific review has found that taking paracetamol during pregnancy is safe and does not increase the risk of autism, ADHD or other developmental conditions in children, directly countering controversial claims made by US President Donald Trump last year.

The findings, published in *The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Women’s Health*, conclude that there is no evidence linking prenatal paracetamol use to neurodevelopmental disorders. Researchers said the strength and scale of the analysis are sufficient to put long-running concerns to rest.

The review contradicts remarks made by Trump in September, when he urged pregnant women in the United States to avoid Tylenol, known internationally as paracetamol, and to “tough it out,” claiming it could be linked to autism. He suggested women should only consider acetaminophen, Tylenol’s main ingredient, in cases of extremely high fever. His comments, which echoed earlier anti-vaccination rhetoric, drew widespread criticism from medical experts and caused confusion among expectant mothers.

Trump also cited unsubstantiated claims about autism rates in Cuba and among the Amish community, assertions that were rejected by scientists and public health authorities.

Researchers behind the latest review said they examined 43 high-quality studies involving hundreds of thousands of women. Importantly, the analysis included sibling-comparison studies, which help account for genetic and family-related factors that could otherwise influence child development. The authors also prioritised studies with low risk of bias and long-term follow-up of children.

Across all the data reviewed, the researchers found no association between paracetamol use during pregnancy and autism, ADHD or intellectual disability.

Lead author Professor Asma Khalil said the findings were clear. “When we did this analysis, we found no links; there was no association. There’s no evidence that paracetamol increases the risk of autism,” she said, adding that paracetamol “remains a safe option during pregnancy when taken as guided.”

Medical experts noted that untreated pain or high fever during pregnancy can itself pose risks, including miscarriage, premature birth and other complications. Paracetamol is widely recommended as the first-line pain reliever for pregnant women, as alternatives such as ibuprofen are known to carry risks later in pregnancy.