NASHVILLE, Tenn. — As controversy builds around recent federal moves to issue safety warnings on acetaminophen use during pregnancy, new research has broadened the debate — but not resolved it. In the midst of shifting public health guidance, pregnant Tennesseans are asking: is taking Tylenol safe?
What the Latest Studies Say
This August, researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai published a systematic review using the Navigation Guide methodology, evaluating 46 prior studies on prenatal acetaminophen exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Their conclusion: higher-quality studies more often showed modest associations between acetaminophen use and increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Mount Sinai Health System They highlighted plausible biological mechanisms, such as oxidative stress and epigenetic effects, but emphasized that a causal relationship has not been established. Mount Sinai Health System…