Fig. 1: Flowchart of participant screening, enrolment and follow-up.

Eligibility for participation was assessed in 154 children. A total of 89 children were excluded due to malaria (n = 23), hemoglobin <7g/dL (n = 3), weight for height z-score <−2 (n = 7), height for age z-score <−3 (n = 6), inflammation (n = 19), general health conditions (n = 4), breastfeeding >1 time/day (n = 14), difficulties with anthropometric measurements (n = 9), and difficulties with blood draws (n = 4). Out of the 65 eligible participants, 5 withdrew consent. Out of the remaining 60 eligible subjects, 32 were randomly selected and enrolled in the study. A total of 17 participants dropped out during the first block of the study, either because they had difficulty consuming the meals (n = 10) or because venipuncture was unsuccessful (n = 7). Therefore, 16 participants were replaced in the first block of the study. In total, 25 participants completed both study blocks, and 4 additional subjects completed at least one study block hence contributing partially completed data. whz weight-for-height z-score, haz height-for-age z-score.