In a study of health problems among 259 adolescents between the ages of 14 and 18, researchers found that teens with alcohol-use disorders (AUDs) had elevated liver enzyme levels and more abnormalities in physical exams, especially oral exams.

"The rise in liver enzymes is statistically significant, but in most cases was not clinically abnormal," said Duncan B. Clark, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. "Although the enzyme levels in these teens is not an immediate health concern, it does show that their bodies are not invulnerable to the effects of alcohol. With continued excessive drinking, they may develop permanent liver damage."

Researchers also found that most of the physical complaints among the study group were psychosomatic and not related to organ damage caused by drinking.

"Prior research had shown a definite link between AUDs and self-reported health problems, but none had gone on to determine the origins of those complaints," said Dr. Clark. "Our results place much of the blame for these health complaints on negative emotionality, although some complaints such as shortness of breath can be traced to cigarette smoking, which is common in this group."

Researchers will continue to follow the study group of adolescents to determine adult outcomes in health and other areas.

The study's findings are published in the Sept. 17 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

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