09/25/2025
Let’s provide some clarity here….
1. Acetaminophen metabolism in the liver
When you take acetaminophen, it’s processed (metabolized) in your liver. Normally, it gets broken down into harmless substances that your body can easily eliminate. But a small part of acetaminophen is also converted into a highly toxic substance called NAPQI (N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine).
2. Glutathione’s role
Your liver has a protective molecule called glutathione. Glutathione acts like a “detoxifier,” helping to neutralize harmful substances like NAPQI. Under normal circumstances, glutathione can easily handle the small amount of NAPQI produced.
3. Glutathione depletion
However, when you take too much acetaminophen, the liver is overwhelmed, and it can’t produce enough glutathione to keep up with all the NAPQI. As a result, glutathione levels in the liver drop significantly. This depletion of glutathione allows the toxic NAPQI to build up, causing damage to liver cells.
4. Liver damage and neuroinflammation
When liver cells are damaged, they release various chemicals that cause inflammation. Some of these inflammatory signals can travel to the brain, where they trigger neuroinflammation—an inflammation of the brain and nervous system. Neuroinflammation can have a range of harmful effects on the brain, including headaches, mood changes, and even long-term effects on cognitive function.
5. Why neuroinflammation matters
Neuroinflammation can be problematic because it disrupts normal brain function. It’s linked to various conditions, including anxiety, depression, and even neurodegenerative diseases.
Taking too much acetaminophen can overwhelm the liver’s detox systems, leading to liver damage and triggering inflammation that can affect the brain, contributing to conditions like neuroinflammation. It’s important to follow dosage guidelines to avoid these harmful effects.
So can acetaminophen cause autism? No, not directly, it can be a contributing factor like many other things.
