Does Acetaminophen, aka Paracetamol, a popular pain medication increase the risk of newborns developing mental disorders? Well, that’s what many headlines would have you believe. However, bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger has now revealed that those fanning the idea have overlooked an important part of the study that does not support these claims.

“A new study on more than 2.5 million children found that acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol) does not increase the risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability,” Arnold Schwarzenegger wrote in Arnold’s Pump Club. Those claiming that taking the pain pills leads to a slight increase may be willfully ignoring variables that the scientist did not.

The researchers included a sibling analysis, which included the risk of siblings from the same biological parents. This crucial measure helped remove “genetic or environmental factors that increase risk,” which skew the results, Arnold Schwarzenegger wrote in his newsletter. They found that pre-existing factors increased the risk, rather than the pain medicine.

Scientists found that parents with disorders like ADHD took more pain medication during pregnancy. They were more likely to pass such disorders on to their children since mental health issues have a “strong genetic link.” The researchers also found that pain medication exposure was more common among children belonging to a lower socioeconomic class, with parents who had higher early pregnancy BMI.

Parents who smoked during pregnancy also increased the risk. However, once scientists identified and controlled these factors, the link between acetaminophen and mental disorders in children disappeared. Arnold Schwarzenegger also said that the FDA and European Medicines Agency have labeled the drug safe during pregnancy. This doesn’t mean pregnant mothers should pop pain pills without prejudice. Thankfully, Arnold Schwarzenegger approves of something else all pregnant women should do.

Arnold Schwarzenegger approves of staying active

Arnold Schwarzenegger gave his nod of pregnant women working out when an 8-month-pregnant fan wrote to him last year. In September 2023, a woman thanked The Austrian Oak for his motivating, daily fitness newsletter. “I’m nearly 8 months pregnant and I don’t want to do anything,” the woman wrote.

However, she subscribed to Arnie’s newsletter and found it incredibly beneficial. “You motivate me to stay active, go outside & swim every day,” she added. “This is exactly what I want to hear,” responded Arnold Schwarzenegger, pleased with her effort. That’s because several studies have shown exercise to be beneficial for pregnant women.

While making sensational claims may help headlines go viral, Arnold Schwarzenegger yet again highlighted the importance of digging deeper and looking at the whole picture.