By Dr. Brian McDonough

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - There are certain studies I know are going to be talked about a great deal and this is one of them.

Americans spend $731-million a year on fish oil supplements. But a new report in the Journal of the American Medical Association has found that fish oil may not help you live longer. It’s a controversial study because so many people take the supplements.

But what it actually is saying is that there may be a lot of beneficial effects as far as fish oil is concerned. But as far as life span, it may not make that big of a difference.

We know certain things. Fish oil can help lower triglycerides. We also know that if you eat fish there are numerous advantages.

The question becomes just how much are those supplements worth to you and should you be spending the money.