Overview

• The Wall Street Journal reports the pending HHS/NIH review will link acetaminophen use in pregnancy and low maternal folate to autism and will likely recommend folinic acid to reduce symptoms in some people.
• HHS said it is using “gold-standard science” and that any descriptions of the report’s contents remain speculation until the final release expected later this month, alongside NIH grant awards.
• Kenvue shares fell roughly 10% to 14% after the reporting, and the Tylenol maker said it sees no causal link between prenatal acetaminophen and autism.
• Major medical groups, including ACOG, advise that prudent acetaminophen use in pregnancy is considered safe and caution against alarm, echoing FDA guidance to consult clinicians.
• Evidence remains mixed: a 2024 JAMA study of more than 2 million Swedish children found no association, while a recent review in BMC Environmental Health reported associations that do not establish causation.