Paracetamol in pregnancy: A widely used pain reliever long considered safe during pregnancy may be linked to a higher risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children, according to new research.
Paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen, is commonly taken to ease fever, headaches, and body aches. But a large analysis of 46 studies involving more than 1,00,000 mothers and children across several countries suggests that its use in pregnancy could be tied to increased chances of autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in offspring.
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The findings, published in BioMed Central, were led by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in the United States. “What we see is that higher-quality studies are more likely to show a link between prenatal exposure to acetaminophen and increased risks of autism and ADHD,” said lead author Diddier Prada, assistant professor of population health science and policy at Mount Sinai. “Given how common this medication is, even a small increase in risk could have major public health consequences.”
Scientists pointed to several possible biological explanations. Paracetamol can cross the placenta, potentially causing oxidative stress, disrupting hormone activity, or triggering genetic changes that interfere with the fetus’s brain development.
The researchers stressed that the study does not prove paracetamol causes these conditions, but the evidence is strong enough to raise concerns about widespread and unsupervised use. They recommend pregnant women use the drug sparingly, under medical guidance, until further studies provide clearer answers.
(Source: BioMed Central)
