Here’s why women should not take paracetamol during pregnancy
| Nov 25, 2018, 07:00 IST
All you to-be-moms need to give this one a good read. A new study states that women who take paracetamol during pregnancy risk lowering their child's IQ. Not just that, taking paracetamol can even lead to the risk of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and autism.
After reviewing nine studies looking at 150,000 mothers and babies in total, US universities, including Harvard, claimed that the balance of hormones in the uterus is altered by taking paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen (APAP). One study found a three-point drop in IQ for five-year-old children whose mothers had taken paracetamol for pain relief without fever. Also, other studies proved that there is even a link between paracetamol use and delayed speech.
The study, led by Dr Ilan Matok, from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, analysed 132,738 mother-child pairs over three-to-11 years. The research finds a definite link association between prolonged acetaminophen use and an increase in the risk of autism and ADHD. The researchers of these latest findings, published in the journal Hormones and Behavior, said, "Longer duration of APAP use was associated with increased risk."
After reviewing nine studies looking at 150,000 mothers and babies in total, US universities, including Harvard, claimed that the balance of hormones in the uterus is altered by taking paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen (APAP). One study found a three-point drop in IQ for five-year-old children whose mothers had taken paracetamol for pain relief without fever. Also, other studies proved that there is even a link between paracetamol use and delayed speech.
The study, led by Dr Ilan Matok, from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, analysed 132,738 mother-child pairs over three-to-11 years. The research finds a definite link association between prolonged acetaminophen use and an increase in the risk of autism and ADHD. The researchers of these latest findings, published in the journal Hormones and Behavior, said, "Longer duration of APAP use was associated with increased risk."