There is inadequate evidence to show a connection between the use of paracetamol by pregnant women and the chances of bearing children with autism. This is what an expert is saying after a recent study linked paracetamol in pregnancy with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
"This paper does not provide sufficient evidence to support the claim that there is a strong association between paracetamol use and the presentation of symptoms of autism," according to Dr. James Cusack, as per The Independent. Cusack is the director of science at autism charity Autistica.
In case you missed it, this week's cause du jour of Autism was Paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen, or the... https://t.co/0pmIOUe8fd
— John Greally (@johngreally) July 4, 2016
More Research Needed To Establish Link
"As the authors correctly state, more research, with careful control for other factors is required to understand whether a link exists at all," said Dr. Cusack. Cusack said that the study's findings on autism are "preliminary" and should not alarm families or pregnant women.
According to Science Daily, the study involved 2,644 mother-child pairs. The researchers asked the mothers on their use of paracetamol during their pregnancy and its frequency. However, the exact doses of the paracetamol could not be determined as the mothers were unable to recall the exact dosage. Persistent exposure to paracetamol reportedly led to more autism symptoms in boys.
Increased Risk With Paracetamol
Researchers found that children who were exposed to paracetamol during pregnancy had a 30 percent higher risk of losing some of their attention functions, according to a report from The Telegraph. Persistent exposure also led to worse performance on computerized tests designed to evaluate inattention, impulsivity and visual speed processing.
Dr. Cusack said that there "an array of environmental factors which have been associated with autism, only to be rejected later." The study that found an association between paracetamol in pregnancy and autism and ADHD symptoms was published in the International Journal of Epidemiology.
Do you think paracetamol can really increase chances for autism and ADHD in children?
