Patent ID: 8349895

Claim:
A method for improving maternal and child health during the stages of preconception, pregnancy and lactation/postpartum comprising: administering a nutritional supplement i) to a mother during at least two of the stages of preconception, stage I pregnancy, stage II pregnancy, stage III pregnancy, and lactation, wherein one of the at least two stages is stage III pregnancy, or ii) to a mother during at least stage III pregnancy, and to a child during the stage of postpartum; wherein the nutritional supplement comprises omega-6 highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) and omega-3 HUFA; wherein the nutritional supplement administered during stage III pregnancy comprises arachidonic acid (ARA), docosapentaenoic acid (n-6) (DPA(n-6)), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), wherein the ratio of ARA+DPA(n-6):DHA is about 1:2; wherein the ratio of omega-6 HUFA and omega-3 HUFA of the nutritional supplement varies between at least two of said stages of i) and ii); wherein the ratio of omega-6 HUFA:omega-3 HUFA for administration during preconception and stage I pregnancy is about 1:1 to about 10:1, the ratio of omega-6 HUFA:omega-3 HUFA for administration during stage II pregnancy is about 1:10 to about 10:1, and the ratio of omega-6 HUFA:omega-3 HUFA during lactation/postpartum is about 1:20 to about 1:1; and, wherein the nutritional supplement benefits at least one of the mother and the child wherein said benefit is selected from the group consisting of 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 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.