21 Jan 2010, 1141 hrs IST

Fish oil may be the true 'elixir of youth' because of its effects on our biological ageing, according to a new study.

Scientists from the University of California at San Francisco say that omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil extend the genetic 'fuse' that determines the lifespan of cells.

According to the researchers, their finding, made in heart disease patients, could help confirm many of the claims made about health benefits of omega-3.

Taking fish oil supplements is said to protect against heart disease, improve survival after a heart attack, reduce mental decline, and prevent age-related changes in the eye that can lead to blindness.

"These findings raise the possibility that omega-3 may protect against cellular ageing in patients with coronary heart disease," the Scotsman quoted Dr Ramin Farzaneh-Far from the University of California at San Francisco as saying.

The study has been described in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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