Pills which are helping youngsters learn seem to be clearing up skin problems as well, experts have revealed.

For the last six months more than 100 County Durham primary school children have taken daily food supplements to improve their concentration in the classroom.

> The pills are designed to stimulate the brain, but researchers have also noticed that children with skin problems are also benefiting.

The radical experiment, which could lead to new treatments for learning disorders, ended Thursday with the final tests on children carried out by education staff.

Results from the trial should be published in September.

Early signs suggest that children are responding well to the pills, which are designed to combat learning difficulties such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, hyper-activity and autism.

Madelaine Portwood, a senior educational psychologist who is running the trial on behalf of Durham County Education Authority, said she had noticed improvements in children with eczema during the six month trial.

In at least one case a badly effected child has improved dramatically said Dr Portwood.

"We are seeing quite significant improvements in obvi

ous symptoms of fatty acid deficiency like eczema," she said. This new spin-off from the commercially available Eye q. food supplement is another sign that the pills, which contain omega three and omega six fish oils, evening primrose oil and vitamin E, are having an effect.

"We know one of the likely origins of eczema is a fatty acid deficiency, perhaps we need to be more focused on looking at dietary supplements rather than creams. We are treating the source of the problem rather than the symptoms," said Dr Portwood.

In a separate development, a scheme to give the pills to Durham University students who suffer from learning difficulties has been extended to Edinburgh University.

"Originally we thought around 25 students at Durham would be involved but with the involvement of Edinburgh we will have about 50 at each site, it is very exciting," said Dr Portwood.

While university students have done well to get so far, some students are held back by learning disorders.

Dr Portwood believes that by correcting dietary deficiencies, pupils and university students alike will improve their ability to study.