Trump Administration Links Tylenol, Acetaminophen Use in Pregnancy to Autism, Experts Question Evidence
- 22 sept
- 2 Min. de lectura
The Trump administration this week made what the president himself dubbed "one of the biggest announcements... in the history of our country," asserting a link between the common painkiller acetaminophen and autism. In a move that has drawn swift concern from the scientific community, President Trump and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are set to formally claim that using acetaminophen—the active ingredient in Tylenol—during pregnancy increases the risk of autism.
The administration is also expected to propose a form of vitamin B, leucovorin, as a potential treatment or preventative measure for the disorder. Leucovorin, also known as folinic acid, is typically used to treat deficiencies caused by chemotherapy. The theory is based on research suggesting some people with autism have metabolic differences that reduce folate reaching the brain, a roadblock leucovorin might bypass.
However, medical experts and scientists are urging caution, highlighting that there is little credible scientific evidence for either claim. While a few small studies have suggested an association between acetaminophen exposure in the womb and autism, the largest and most comprehensive study on the topic—an NIH-funded collaboration—found no such increased risk. A U.S. District Court reached a similar conclusion in a product liability case even before that study was published. The evidence for leucovorin as an effective treatment is also considered "scant," with organizations like the Autism Science Foundation stating that the science is "still in very early stages".
This announcement is being viewed by many as the administration's latest effort to question established science and advance a political agenda. HHS Secretary Kennedy has long sought "environmental" causes for autism, previously targeting vaccines and synthetic food dyes. Critics point out that while autism diagnoses have tripled in the past two decades, acetaminophen use has remained largely steady. Furthermore, scientists widely agree that genetics play a central and well-documented role in autism risk.
Amid the political furor, medical groups are standing by current recommendations. The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine continues to advise the use of acetaminophen for pain and fever during pregnancy, arguing that untreated conditions like a high fever can cause severe harm, including miscarriage, premature birth, or birth defects. The manufacturer of Tylenol has also disputed the administration's claim, defending the product's safety during pregnancy. For now, the administration's declaration has created more controversy than clarity, pitting a political announcement against the weight of the current scientific consensus on the acetaminophen pregnancy autism link.
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