Moms-to-be who use acetaminophen, a widely used pain reliever, might unknowingly be raising the risk of their children developing ADHD, according to recent research. Published in Nature Mental Health, this study adds fuel to the ongoing debate about acetaminophen’s safety during pregnancy. Brennan Baker from Seattle Children’s Research Institute told Fox News Digital that detecting acetaminophen in expectant mothers’ blood correlated with a tripled likelihood of their children having ADHD.
To gather their findings, researchers tested blood samples from 307 Black women during their second trimester. They also examined the mothers’ placentas after delivery to identify any inflammation linked to acetaminophen exposure. Previous studies have pointed to a connection between heightened inflammatory responses in pregnancy and negative neurodevelopmental outcomes in children.
Tracking the kids from ages 8 to 10, researchers looked at ADHD diagnoses to see if there was a link to prenatal acetaminophen exposure. They discovered DNA changes associated with immune system functions in the placentas exposed to the medication, which pointed to a higher chance of developing ADHD. Baker emphasized that the study helps inch closer to identifying “modifiable prenatal risk factors.”
Dr. Ryan Sultan, a physician at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, called the findings “important and concerning,” stressing their role in highlighting potential prenatal risk factors. Despite this, experts, including Sultan, reminded Fox News Digital that pregnant women shouldn’t entirely avoid acetaminophen. They advised using it sparingly and only when absolutely necessary.
Conflicting data exists on the topic. A study of about 2.5 million Swedish children found no increased risk of ADHD or other conditions related to acetaminophen exposure. Conversely, research in Taiwan noted an increased risk of ADHD in children whose mothers used the medication during pregnancy.
Past research often leaned on self-reporting by mothers, which can underestimate acetaminophen use, said Baker. However, Sultan pointed out limitations in the study, such as the small sample size and its focus solely on Black mothers in the South. Moreover, acetaminophen exposure was recorded only once during the study period.
The study’s design cannot definitively prove a causal link between acetaminophen use and ADHD. Baker mentioned the difficulty in ensuring causation in observational studies due to potential unknown factors. Factors like family mental health history and socioeconomic status were accounted for, but uncertainty remains.
Dr. Lama Bazzi, a psychiatrist in New York City, noted that ADHD is a “complex, multifactorial deficit in executive functioning” that can appear in various forms. While the study suggests a potential risk, the condition’s complexity makes definitive conclusions challenging. Acetaminophen is commonly used by pregnant women, especially those dealing with anxiety or depression, according to past research.
Kenvue, the company behind Tylenol, responded to the study by emphasizing the safety of acetaminophen. They stated that neither the FDA nor leading medical organizations have validated a causal link between its use during pregnancy and developmental issues. The study received partial funding from the National Institutes of Health, and Fox News Digital reached out to manufacturers for further comments.
