Last September, US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said acetaminophen causes autism when taken by pregnant mothers. Acetaminophen is marketed as Panadol, Tylenol and Paracetemol and has been offered as a painkiller since the 1950s, although the compound was discovered in the late 19th century.
The University of Liverpool published a study this week that found no reliable link between the use of Panadol by pregnant mothers and an increase in autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.
Researchers from the University of Liverpool conducted an in-depth review of nine systematic reviews and 40 observational studies. They rated the overall confidence in the findings of previous research as mostly very low or low.
Previous studies often failed to take into account critical parental factors such as mental health, lifestyle, and genetic or environmental influences shared with siblings. While in some studies that adjusted for the above factors, the vague link between Panadol use and autism and ADHD either disappeared completely or became less convincing.
So in conclusion, there is still no clear link between the increase in autism cases and ADHD disorders as claimed by the United States Secretary of Health.
