People with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the blood have a 30% lower risk of unregulated heart rhythm, according to a US study.
And according to previous studies, regular fish consumers are less at risk than the condition, which significantly increases the risk of thrombosis, heart attack and stroke.
In the present study, researchers looked at the benefits of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). They are found mostly in oily fish, fish oil.
Researchers are monitoring the diet and health of 3,300 adults. Within 14 years, 789 of them developed an irregular heartbeat.
Participants with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids at the start of the study had a 30% lower risk of developing an arrhythmia later in life than people who had lower levels of fat.
Of the three types of fatty acids studied, DHA has the greatest benefits for the heart - it reduces the risk of irregular heartbeat by 23%.
The study does not prove that fish consumption is responsible for the lower risk of heart problems. But scientists say omega-3 fats help stabilize the excitability of heart muscle cells.
The study was published in the journal Circulation .