Chinese doctors analyzed health data on 708,000 pregnant women and their children collected in Hong Kong from 2001 to 2023. Scientists have studied all forms and dosages of paracetamol, as well as the timing of its use during pregnancy. In none of the cases was there a statistically significant effect on the risk of developing autism or attention deficit disorder in future children.
The researchers paid special attention to the genetic factor that plays an important role in the development of autism. To do this, they separately analyzed data on children who had siblings. The results confirmed that taking paracetamol had no effect on the development of the fetal nervous system, regardless of the age of the mother, the form and dosage of the drug.
The study was a response to recent public statements about the possible connection of paracetamol with autism. The authors emphasize that their findings, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, cast doubt on this hypothesis. The data obtained indicate that taking the drug during pregnancy is not a risk factor for the development of autism and attention deficit disorder in children.
