Chalk up another health benefit for fish oil. New research has found omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish and supplements may prevent the onset of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.

The benefits, discovered by University of Melbourne researchers, appear to accrue long after being consumed — up to seven years, Medical Xpress reports.

In study published in Nature Communications, researchers found 81 young people at high risk of suffering from schizophrenia who took omega-3 supplements for 12 weeks were far less likely to suffer the condition later in life than those given a placebo.

Only 10 percent of the omega-3 group developed psychosis compared to 40 percent in the placebo group.

"We show that omega-3 significantly reduced the risk of progression to psychotic disorder during the entire follow-up period," the study concluded.

Schizophrenia typically emerges during adolescence or early adulthood, either abruptly or gradually. There is no cure. Current treatment focuses on managing symptoms.

Scientists have long known that patients with schizophrenia have lower levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids —specifically, omega-3 and omega 6 — in cell membranes.

Lead researcher Paul Amminger said scientists still do not understand the underlying mechanism by which omega-3 might prevent the onset of schizophrenia, which has both genetic and environmental origins.

But he added that fish oil rich in omega-3 "has no clinically relevant side effects, and thus is certainly a benign treatment option. But patients need to be told that evidence [of its benefits] is limited."