Omega-3 fatty acids do not benefit patients with an irregular heartbeat, according to a recent study.

Researchers from the Montreal Heart Institute in Canada found that high doses of fish oil supplements, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, do not reduce atrial fibrillation, a common type of irregular heartbeat in which the heart can beat as fast as 150 beats a minute.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of arrhythmia affecting approximately 350,000 Canadians. That number is likely to increase as the population ages.

"Fish oil has no role in the rhythm-control management of atrial fibrillation," Dr. Anil Nigam, lead investigator of the study, said in a statement.

For the trial, more than 300 patients with atrial fibrillation not receiving conventional antiarrhythmic therapy were randomly assigned to 4 grams of fish oil a day or to placebo for up to 16 months. 

They found that 64.1 percent of the participants who had received fish oil experienced a recurrence of atrial fibrillation compared to 63.2 percent of those taking placebo. Based on these findings, researchers concluded that fish oil supplements did not reduce inflammation or oxidative stress markers, which may explain its lack of efficacy.

"What is well-known and should be recommended to prevent heart disease and reduce blood pressure is a Mediterranean-type diet rich in natural omega-3 fats and other nutrients," Nagam said.

This includes fresh fruits and veggies, legumes, olive oil, while lowering intake of red meat, trans fats and saturated fats.

Researchers believe that such a strategy might also be beneficial for the treatment of atrial fibrillation although more studies are required.

The risk of developing atrial fibrillation increases with age and with other risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and underlying heart disease. Some heart conditions, such as heart failure and heart valve problems can also increase the risk of suffering from atrial fibrillation.