Paracetamol was one of the few medications that pregnant women could take during pregnancy. Now, however, a new study published in the specialized scientific journal JAMA Pediatrics has cast doubt on the safety of its intake. According to researchers from the University of California (UCLA) and the University of Aarhus, in Denmark, there could be an association between taking paracetamol and the famous ADHD ( Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ).
ADHD is one of the most common conduct disorders on the planet and is characterized by decreased attention, increased impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, hyperactivity, and so on. In recent decades, an increase in ADHD cases has been observed, which has led scientists to search for the causes of this increase. In the words of one of the lead authors of the research, Beate Ritz, from the Department of Epidemiology at the Fielding School, “the causes of ADHD and hyperkinetic disorder are not well understood, but it is clear that genetic and environmental factors contribute to he”. In addition, according to the same researcher, “it is likely that the increase is not only attributable to improved diagnoses or parental awareness. It is likely that there are environmental components .”
For the study, the researchers analyzed 64,322 Danish children and mothers between 1996 and 2002. To check whether they had taken paracetamol, computer-assisted telephone interviews were carried out up to three times during pregnancy and again six months after giving birth. The children were subsequently followed up, analyzing possible behavior problems. They also achieved a diagnosis of hyperkinetic disorder at 11 years of age.
According to the data, half of the mothers consumed paracetamol during pregnancy. The researchers found that the children of mothers who had taken acetaminophen during pregnancy were 13 to 37 percent more likely to engage in ADHD behaviors. In fact, if paracetamol had been consumed in the second and third trimesters, the association was greater. What’s more, according to scientists, the risk of ADHD in children rose to 50 percent in those whose mothers took this pain reliever for more than 20 weeks into their pregnancy .
As Ritz herself explains, “It is known from animal data that acetaminophen is a hormone disruptor and that abnormal hormonal exposures during pregnancy can influence fetal brain development.”
Despite the alarming conclusions reached by the study, the researchers have been cautious. As Jørn Olsen, co-author of the paper, explains, “We need more research to verify these results , but if these results reflect causal associations, then acetaminophen should not be considered a ‘safe’ drug to take during pregnancy.”
