A comprehensive study has concluded that using paracetamol during pregnancy does not elevate the risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disabilities in children. This extensive review, considered the most thorough to date, was initiated following former President Donald Trump’s assertion that the medication might be contributing to a significant increase in autism diagnoses.

In September, Trump advised against the use of the painkiller during pregnancy, proposing that expectant mothers endure discomfort without it. In response, an international team spearheaded by researchers from St George’s, University of London, scrutinized data from 43 prior studies encompassing hundreds of thousands of children.

The studies reviewed compared outcomes in pregnancies where paracetamol was used to those where it was not, utilizing validated surveys or medical records to assess the implications on child health.

Included in the analysis were several sibling studies, which examined children born to the same mother, where paracetamol was only used during one of the pregnancies.

The findings consistently indicated no association between the use of paracetamol during pregnancy and the development of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disabilities in children.

Professor Asma Khalil, a leading expert in obstetrics and maternal-fetal medicine at St George’s, commented, “Our research suggests that previously noted associations are more likely due to genetic factors or other maternal conditions, such as fever or pain, rather than a direct consequence of paracetamol itself.”

“The message is clear — paracetamol remains a safe option during pregnancy when taken as guided.

“This is important as paracetamol is the first-line medication we recommend for pregnant women in pain or with a fever, and so they should feel reassured that they still have a safe option to relieve them of their symptoms.”

Commenting on the study, Grainne McAlonan, professor of translational neuroscience at King’s College London, said: “Expectant mothers do not need the stress of questioning whether medicine most commonly used for a headache could have far-reaching effects on their child’s health.

“This thorough and clear study approached the question by conducting both a substantial systematic review of the literature and a meta-analysis of eligible studies.

“While the impact of last year’s announcement has been extensive, I hope the findings of this study bring the matter to a close.”

The findings were published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Women’s Health.