A UK government minister has dismissed Donald Trump’s unverified assertion of a connection between the use of paracetamol during pregnancy and autism. The US President raised concerns about a potential link between Tylenol, known as paracetamol in the UK, and autism without presenting any supporting evidence. He recommended avoiding the medication “throughout pregnancy” and also expressed unfounded worries regarding vaccines.
UK experts criticized the Trump administration for spreading fear and referenced studies refuting the President’s unfounded statements. Labour minister Matthew Pennycook emphasized the importance of evidence-based decision-making in policy and stated that any alleged link between paracetamol and autism is currently unproven. He urged following scientific guidance, including information provided by the NHS on paracetamol usage.
The NHS website in the UK advises that paracetamol is a safe pain relief option for pregnant individuals and is commonly used during pregnancy without causing harm to the baby.
Meanwhile, professionals have rebuked the remarks made by the US President. Dr. Monique Botha, an associate professor at Durham University, highlighted a Swedish study involving 2.4 million births in 2024 that found no correlation between prenatal exposure to paracetamol and autism, ADHD, or intellectual disabilities. Dr. Botha emphasized the lack of robust evidence supporting a causal relationship between paracetamol and autism and stressed the importance of providing adequate pain relief options for pregnant women.
Professor Claire Anderson, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, affirmed the safety of paracetamol usage, including during pregnancy, citing a large-scale study from 2024 that found no increased risk of autism in children associated with paracetamol use during pregnancy.