Autism and Acetaminophen?

Multiple theories currently exist over the possible enviromental triggers for autism including childhood vaccinations, mercury exposure and viral infections (all of these will eventually be discussed in this forum). Some more researched theories include the idea that the use of acetaminophen within the early years of childhood causes autism, hence the title and topic for this blog post.

Acetaminophen is metabolized via three pathways: glucuronidation (a process that makes any non-energy providing source available for excretion), sulfation (a process that decreases the toxological effects of the drug) and via the cytochrome P-450 system (a process that bioactivates the drug via a catalyzation of the oxidizing agents within the drug itself).

One study of children with autism indicated that they had a sulfonation deficit which, as previously described, decreases the toxicity of acetaminophen, allowing for higher, more toxic levels to remain within the circulatory pathway.

Source: Schultz, Stephen. Can autism be triggered by acetaminophen activation of the endocannabinoid system? Acta Neurobiol Exp 2010, 70:227-231