This is a case-control study nested within the F75 intervention trial. The trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02246296). By comparing the metabolomic profiles between cases (children who died, n=90) and controls (children who were discharged alive, n=90), this study aimed to understand the metabolic pathways underlying mortality among children with severe malnutrition admitted to hospitals in Kenya and Malawi. Targeted serum metabolomics were performed using liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). A total 206 metabolites were targeted by two assays - the AbsoluteIDQ p180 Kit quantifying 188 metabolites and the TMIC PRIME® assay quantifying 18 organic acids.