Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41854993›Full record

ArticleJournal of autism and developmental disorders2026

Emerging Discussions on Folinic Acid and Acetaminophen in Autism.

Mustafa Balkanas, Gizem Durcan, Burak Doğangün

Abstract readLetter
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Mustafa BalkanasDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, 34098, Istanbul, Turkey. mustafa.balkanas@iuc.edu.tr.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0009-5278-1383
Gizem DurcanDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, 34098, Istanbul, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7863-4551
Burak DoğangünDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, 34098, Istanbul, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0106-8256

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo provide a balanced update for clinicians and families on folinic acid (leucovorin) in autism and the evidence regarding prenatal acetaminophen (paracetamol) exposure.

methodsWe summarise key randomised trials of folinic acid and the most methodologically rigorous observational evidence on prenatal acetaminophen, with attention to study design and subgroup findings.

resultsSeveral small, randomised trials report short-term improvements in verbal or social communication with folinic acid. These effects appear stronger in biological subgroups, such as children with folate receptor autoantibodies (FRAA). However, the evidence remains limited due to small sample sizes, single-centre designs, and variable outcome measures. Notably, a randomised trial published in 2024 was retracted in January 2026, highlighting the need for caution regarding early findings. For acetaminophen, there is ongoing debate about its potential association with autism. A major Swedish cohort study using sibling control analysis (n = 2,480,797) found no association with autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability after adjusting for familial factors.

conclusionClear, evidence-based communication is essential to help families navigate emerging evidence without being misled by premature claims.

Indexed as

AcetaminophenAutistic DisorderLeucovorinPrenatal Exposure Delayed EffectsVitamin B ComplexChildFemaleHumansPregnancyRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicAcetaminophenLeucovorinVitamin B ComplexAcetaminophenAutismEmerging evidenceFolate receptor autoantibodiesFolinic acidLeucovorin

Identifiers

PMID41854993

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.