New Delhi, Aug 16
While paracetamol or acetaminophen has long remained the first choice of painkiller in pregnancy, a new study claims it may lead to neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), such as autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in babies.
Acetaminophen is the most commonly used over-the-counter medication taken during pregnancy, with more than 50 per cent of pregnant women using the drug worldwide. It is widely used for headaches, pain, or fever by pregnant women.
Researchers from the universities of Massachusetts and Harvard analysed 46 studies that incorporated data from more than 100,000 people. Of these, 27 studies reported significant links to NDDs.
“The majority of the studies reported positive associations of prenatal acetaminophen use with ADHD, ASD, or NDDs in offspring,” said corresponding author Andrea A. Baccarelli from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Acetaminophen is known to cross the placental barrier and may trigger oxidative stress, disrupt hormones, and cause epigenetic changes that interfere with foetal brain development, which may explain the links, the researcher said.
Prior literature has also shared the potential link between acetaminophen and neurodevelopmental disorders.