Additional Coverage:
- RFK Jr. report to link autism to Tylenol use during pregnancy (themirror.com)
HHS Report Expected to Link Tylenol Use During Pregnancy to Autism, Contradicting Existing Research
A forthcoming report from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is expected to suggest a link between acetaminophen (Tylenol) use during pregnancy and autism in children, according to a source familiar with the report. This news comes as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faces scrutiny from the Senate Finance Committee regarding his policies on vaccines and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The report reportedly focuses on folate levels, suggesting that low levels of this essential vitamin may contribute to autism. It proposes a link between Tylenol use during pregnancy and reduced folate absorption by the fetus. Following the initial report of the HHS findings, shares of Tylenol manufacturer Kenvue dropped sharply.
The HHS report appears to draw on a recent study published in BMC Environmental Health, which explored a potential connection between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and ADHD. This study, led by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Harvard’s T.H.
Chan School of Public Health, analyzed data from over 100,000 participants across 46 studies. Importantly, the researchers behind this study did not recommend restricting Tylenol use in pregnant women, emphasizing the importance of the drug in managing fever and pain, which can also pose risks to the fetus.
They advocated for judicious use under medical supervision, considering individual risk-benefit assessments.
Adding to the complexity of the issue, a separate study published in JAMA in April 2024, involving nearly 200,000 participants, found no association between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability in children. This study concluded that previous observed associations may be due to familial factors rather than a causal link. The conflicting findings highlight the ongoing debate and the need for further research to clarify the relationship between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children.
Read More About This Story:
- RFK Jr. report to link autism to Tylenol use during pregnancy (themirror.com)