Fig. 1

Trial flow chart of the study. Recovery was defined as a WHZ ≥ −1.5 (WHO Growth Standards 2006) or MUAC ≥125 mm at two consecutive visits and absence of bilateral oedema for at least 14 days. Non-response was defined as not meeting the criteria for nutritional recovery at 12 weeks and default as failing to appear for two consecutive follow-up visits confirmed by a home visit. Defaulter was defined as a patient absent for two consecutive visits and confirmed as absent by a home visit at week 3. Relapse to MAM was defined as the development of a WHZ < –2.0 and ≥ –3.0 (WHO Growth Standards 2006) or MUAC <125 mm and ≥115 mm (without bilateral oedema) at least once during the monthly follow-up visits without the child developing SAM criteria during any other follow-up visit. Relapse to SAM was defined as development of a WHZ < −3.0 (WHO Growth Standards 2006) or MUAC <115 mm or presence of bilateral oedema at least once during the monthly follow-up visits. Unknown was defined as defaulter not confirmed by a home visit or as no information for children at the end of the trial. Withdrawal from the study was defined as participants who had to stop the study for personal reasons