A little boy suffering from a rare blood disorder could be benefiting from a medical breakthrough.

For the past eight months Reuben Grainger-Mead has been testing a custom-made mix of supplements equivalent to a multi-vitamin for his special condition, a form of pure red cell aplasia.

The five-year-old's body is unable to produce red blood cells and has needed monthly blood transfusions to stay alive since the age of two.

But since he started taking the formula of 15 supplements he has not required a single transfusion.

His mother Michelle Grainger-Mead believes this is directly due to the mixture, which Reuben takes in drinks and yogurt three times a day.

She said: "He feels much more healthy. We are trying to strengthen his body and give him the best chance we can.

"He is slightly anaemic but he can live with it. We can only assume that the supplements have taken the iron build-up out of his body. He needs to get rid of iron build-up and produce his own blood cells."

The experiment, which is funded by Mrs Grainger-Mead and backed by Reuben's doctors, started last year when she contacted a nutritionist on the internet.

After numerous tests the nutritionist came up with the combination of natural supplements - some of which were ordered from as far as America - to build up his immune system which was then approved by Reuben's doctors.

Reuben has had to have regular tests with the nutritionist to make sure he is striking the right balance.

Mrs Grainger-Mead said he should have been on a "painful and long" treatment called Chelation Therapy, but has not needed it so far.

Mrs Grainger-Mead of Lower Lane, Little Gomersal, will be sharing the success with other parents of children with blood disorders at a conference on April 22.

"We are going to parents and say this is working. Have a go and we will help you."

She added: "This could be very exciting if we get through the 12-month test. We will have to wait and see."

The charity Reuben and Friends set up in 2004 to raise funds in his name and compile a database of sufferers, has so far collected £50,000. To make donation call Helen Hartley on (01274) 875300.