Products Containing Highly Unsaturated Fatty Acids for Use by Women and Their Children During Stages of Preconception, Pregnancy and Lactation/Post-Partum

Abstract

A method and product for improving maternal and child health through nutrition. Omega-6 fatty acid and/or omega-3 fatty acid are provided to a woman and/or child prior to, during and/or after pregnancy to improve the health of the woman and her child. The ratios of the omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids vary during various stages, e.g., pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and post-pregnancy. The omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids can be in a variety of forms, such as at least one of highly purified algal oil comprising 70% by weight or more of the desired HUFA, triglyceride oil combined with phospholipid, phospholipid, protein and phospholipid combination, or dried marine microalgae.

1 . A method for providing HUFA to a mother and child comprising:
 a) administering omega- 6  HUFA to the mother during at least two of the stages of preconception, pregnancy and lactation, or to the mother during at least one of the stages of preconception, pregnancy and lactation and to the child during the stage of postpartum;   b) administering omega-3 HUFA to the mother during at least two of the stages of preconception, pregnancy and lactation, or to the mother during at least one of the stages of preconception, pregnancy and lactation and to the child during the stage of postpartum; wherein the ratio of said omega-6 HUFA and said omega-3 HUFA vary between at least two of said stages; and, wherein the omega-6 HUFA and omega-3 HUFA benefit at least one of the mother and child.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said HUFA is in the form of at least one of highly purified algal oil comprising 70% or more of the desired HUFA, triglyceride oil combined with phospholipid, phospholipid, protein and phospholipid combination, or dried marine microalgae. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said ranges of ratios vary between at least two of said stages. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said stages include:
 a) preconception and stage I pregnancy;   b) stage II pregnancy;   c) stage III pregnancy; and   d) lactation/postpartum.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said ranges of ratios vary between at least two of said stages. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of a woman and a child benefit from the omega-6 HUFA and omega-3 HUFA, and wherein said benefit is selected from the group comprising promotion of placental growth, balance of essential fatty acids for placental growth and preliminary growth of the nervous system, improved nervous system growth and development (evidenced by increased cognitive outcomes), improved fetal weight gain, full-term pregnancy and cognitive and visual advantages, increased stature in adulthood, improved opportunities for full organ development and function, decreased incidence of chronic bronchitis in adulthood, decreased risk of gestational diabetes, decreased incidence of postpartum depression, and improved cardiovascular health in adulthood. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the range of ratios of omega-6 HUFA:omega-3 HUFA during preconception and stage I pregnancy is from about 1:1 to about 10:1. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the range of ratios of omega-6 HUFA:omega-3 HUFA during stage II pregnancy is from about 1:10 to about 10:1. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the range of ratios of omega-6 HUFA:omega-3 HUFA during stage III pregnancy is from about 1:10 to about 5:1. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the range of ratios of omega-6 HUFA:omega-3 HUFA during lactation/postpartum is from about 1:20 to 1:1. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the range of ratios of omega-6 HUFA:omega-3 HUFA during:
 a) preconception and stage I pregnancy is from about 1: 1 to about 10:1;   b) stage II pregnancy is from about 1: 10 to about 10: 1;   c) stage III pregnancy is from about 1: 10 to about 5: 1; and   d) lactation/postpartum is from about 1: 20 to about 1: 1.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said omega-3 HUFA comprises at least one of DHA and DPA(n-3). 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said omega-3 HUFA comprises DHA. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said omega-6 HUFA comprises at least one of DPA(n-6), ARA and dihomo-GLA. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said omega-6 HUFA comprises at least one of DPA(n-6) and ARA. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said omega-6 HUFA comprises DPA(n-6). 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said HUFA comprises from about 20% to about 80% DHA; from about 5% to about 60% ARA; from about 1% to about 5% DPA(n-3);
 and from about 1% to 2% DPA(n-6).   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said product comprises omega-6 HUFA and omega-3 HUFA in a product form selected from the group comprising nutritional supplements, foods, pharmaceutical formulations and beverages. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said product comprises omega-6 HUFA and omega-3 HUFA in a product form selected from the group comprising infant formula and infant food. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said product is a food and the levels of HUFA source in said food range from about 0.1% to about 20%. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said product comprises one or all of the following in addition to an omega-3 or an omega-6 HUFA: calcium, folic acid, vitamin E, tocotrienols, vitamin D, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin K, iron, B 12, niacin, thiamine, riboflavin, biotin, B6, isoflavones and ginger. 
     
     
         22 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . An omega-6 HUFA and omega-3 HUFA nutritional supplement combination comprising:
 a) an omega-6 HUFA;   b) an omega-3 HUFA;   wherein said omega-6 and omega-3 HUFA are provided in certain ratios to each other, and wherein the ratio of said omega-6 HUFA and said omega-3 HUFA vary between at least two different forms in the combination.   
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . The nutritional supplement combination of  claim 34 , wherein the range of ratios of omega-6 HUFA:omega-3 HUFA during:
 a) preconception and stage I pregnancy is from about 1:1 to about 10:1;   b) stage II pregnancy is from about 1:10 to about 10:1;   c) stage III pregnancy is from about 1:10 to about 5:1; and   d) lactation/postpartum is from about 1:20 to about 1:1.   
     
     
         37 . The nutritional supplement combination of  claim 34 , wherein said omega-3 HUFA comprises at least one of DHA and DPA(n-3). 
     
     
         38 . The nutritional supplement combination of  claim 34 , wherein said omega-6 HUFA comprises at least one of DPA(n-6), ARA and dihomo-GLA. 
     
     
         39 . The nutritional supplement combination of  claim 34 , wherein said HUFA comprises from about 20% to about 80% DHA; from about 5% to about 60% ARA; from about 1% to about 5% DPA(n-3); and from about 1% to 20% DPA(n-6). 
     
     
         40 . The nutritional supplement combination of  claim 34 , wherein said product comprises omega-6 HUFA and omega-3 HUFA in a product form selected from the group comprising nutritional supplements, foods, pharmaceutical formulations and beverages. 
     
     
         41 . The nutritional supplement combination of  claim 34 , wherein said product comprises omega-6 HUFA and omega-3 HUFA in a product form selected from the group comprising infant formula and infant food. 
     
     
         42 . The nutritional supplement combination of  claim 34 , wherein said product is a food and the levels of HUFA source in said food range from about 0.1% to about 20%. 
     
     
         43 - 50 . (canceled)