Omega-3 fatty acids may prevent the development of schizophrenia, according to a study from Melbourne University in Australia. Scientists gave a three-month course of daily fish oil capsules to a group of subjects aged 13 to 25 with early symptoms of schizophrenia. Another group was tested with placebos. One year later, only 10 percent of subjects tested with fish oil capsules were diagnosed with schizophrenia while 40 percent of the second group was found with the disease. Scientists said that Omega-3 fatty acids are not commonly found in the blood cells of patients with schizophrenia. They said that the situation might be the same for brain cells and thereby fish oil can protect neurons by reducing infection in the brain. The scientists also noted that the study was small scale and needs to be backed by further studies. Published in New Scientist magazine, the study said that fish oil can be used as additional treatment for those at risk of schizophrenia. As a chronic mental disease, schizophrenia can mostly emerge between the ages of 18 and 25. Early symptoms of schizophrenia, which is associated with abnormal behaviors and the failure to understand reality, can be seen months and even years before.