Evidence acetaminophen triggers autism in susceptible individuals ignored, mishandled for over decade

William Parker

Paul T. Corrigan
Rachel Anderson
John P. Jones III
Zacharoula Konsoula
Lauren Williamson
R. Randal Bollinger

DOI: https://doi.org/10.70542/rcj-japh-art-1gca1pr

Abstract

Overwhelming evidence shows that exposure of susceptible babies and children to acetaminophen (paracetamol) triggers many if not most cases of autism spectrum disorder, and that oxidative stress causes susceptibility. However, these conclusions have not yet been widely acknowledged or integrated into clinical practice or regulatory guidelines, leaving the continued high prevalence of autism spectrum disorder unchecked. To understand why the conclusions have not been widely accepted, this study conducts systematic analyses of all PubMed-indexed papers with “acetaminophen” and “autism” in any search field. In these papers, statements that failed to promote changes in clinical practice or regulatory guidelines were pervasive. Also pervasive were mishandlings of available evidence, including treating interacting variables as if they are confounding factors (66% of studies affected) and considering too narrow a range of evidence (77% of studies affected). Also present were erroneous criticisms of potentially groundbreaking research, undermining the potential impact of that research. It is hoped that identification of these fundamental problems will lead to widespread acceptance of the evidence that acetaminophen triggers autism spectrum disorder in susceptible babies and children and to subsequent regulatory and clinical changes that will effectively and quickly reduce the induction of autism spectrum disorder.

Disclosures, Funding & Conflicts of Interest

Acknowledgements: The authors wish to thank Kathryn J. Reissner, Susan Poulton, and John Poulton for invaluable insight and discussion, and thank Spencer Sharpe for assistance with logistics. The authors also thank Vishnu Patel, Caitlin Travers, and Lauren Piper for participation in a panel discussion germane to the study design, and the Interlibrary Borrowing staff at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Library for their extensive work that was vital to the conduct of this study. The authors also thank Vishnu Patel and Caitlin Travers for assistance with the systematic review and for careful reading of the manuscript. In addition, the authors thank Zoie E. Holzknecht for careful reading of the manuscript.

Author Contributions

Coauthors RA, RRB and WP conceptualized the study.

Coauthors PTC, RA, RRB, and WP contributed to study design and executed that design, including data collection and analysis.  

Coauthors PTC, JPJ III, ZK, LW, and RRB critically reviewed and revised the manuscript for important intellectual content.

All authors approved the final manuscript as submitted.

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: The authors have no conflicts of interest relevant to this article to disclose.

Funding: This work was funded in part by generous donations to WPLab, Inc., a non-profit corporation based in Durham, North Carolina.

https://publichealth.realclearjournals.org/literature-syntheses/2025/10/evidence-that-acetaminophen-triggers-autism-in-susceptible-individuals-has-been-ignored-and-mishandled-for-more-than-a-decade/