Fish oil is usually associated with heart health, but a new animal study shows that it also nourishes the brain.

Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids, which can reduce inflammation, lower triglycerides, and is believed to have other health benefits as well.

UC Irvine researchers report that dietary deficiencies in the type of fatty acids found in fish and other foods can limit brain growth during fetal development and early in life.

This is because the fatty acids in fish oil are precursors of docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, which plays a key role in the healthy creation of the central nervous system, the researchers said.

Using female frogs and tadpoles, the researchers were able to see how DHA-deficient brain tissue fostered poorly developed neurons and limited numbers of synapses, the vital conduits that allow neurons to communicate with each other.

In addition, when the diets in the DHA-deficient mothers were include a proper level of this dietary fatty acid, neuronal and synaptic growth flourished and returned to normal in the following generation of tadpoles.

Dietary DHA is mainly found in animal products: fish, eggs, and meat.

Oily fish - mackerel, herring, salmon, trout and sardines - are the richest dietary source, containing 10 to 100 times more DHA than nonmarine foods such as nuts, seeds, whole grains and dark green, leafy vegetables.Fish oil supplements are also widely available.