Latest research has created a doubt on the benefits of fish oil. The findings of a team at the University of Alberta were published in the online edition of BMJ. The Study was conducted on more than 30,000 people.

The new revelation establishes that fish oil protects against deaths from heart problems, but doesn't provide a clear benefit in heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias).

But the authors of an accompanying editorial feel that more funding is urgently needed in field of nutrient research which is quite neglected.

It is believed that consuming fish or fish oil at least two to four times a week is recommended for patients after a heart attack. But there is no evidence to prove the claim. The only evidence for the beneficial effect of fish oil supplements is based on one large trial from over 10 years ago. But recent trials have indicated fish oil does not show any beneficial effect on patient outcomes.

Though eleven studies conducted on heart patients showed that fish oil supplements help in reducing deaths from heart problems by 20 percent; but none of the studies was able to pin point the optimal dose or formulation of fish oil.

At the same time six studies reported no benefit of fish oil in preventing sudden cardiac death. Three studies showed neutral effect of fish oil supplements for implantable cardiac defibrillators.