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Fish oils may help treat diseases in newborn babies, according to a new study. Researchers found that fish oil successfully treats congenital hyperinsulinism, a rare and potentially deadly disease in babies who bodies produce too much insulin.

The study revealed that simultaneously giving children standard medical treatment and purified fish oils that are similar to those that treat some heart attacks effectively improves their blood sugar levels.

Researchers describe congenital hyperinsulinism as opposite of diabetes. Researchers estimate that the disorder affects 1 in 50,000 children overall in the UK. The disease causes the body to make too much insulin and can lead to frequent low blood sugar episodes. Low blood sugar in newborn brains can cause long term disabilities or brain damage.

"Although we didn't see enormous changes in our patients during the research, the effects were small but positive. It is important for all babies with congenital hyperinsulinism because it is a condition which is so difficult to treat," researcher Dr. Karen Cosgrove, from The University of Manchester's Faculty of Life Sciences who helped to carry out the new study.

"Our findings are paving the way for further research into how newer treatments can help to stabilize blood sugar levels in babies with congenital hyperinsulinism," added Dr Mars Skae, Consultant in Paediatric Endocrinology at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital - and key member of the NorCHI team.

"The current medical treatment for children with congenital hyperinsulinism has been quite limited. The addition of this fish oil supplement may be a simple but effective way of treating low blood sugars in many children with this difficult condition" Dr.Indi Banerjee, Consultant in Pediatric Endocrinology at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital and clinical lead for NORCHI, concluded.

The findings are published in the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology.