Maiara Brusco de Freitas

Dr. Maiara Brusco de Freitas

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

10Years (2017-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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1 January 2021 in Cadernos de Saude Publica
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
NANadya Helena Alves-Santos
Nadya Helena Alves-Santos
ICInês Rugani Ribeiro de Castro
Inês Rugani Ribeiro de Castro
LALuiz Antonio Dos Anjos
Luiz Antonio Dos Anjos
ELElisa Maria de Aquino Lacerda
Elisa Maria de Aquino Lacerda
PNPaula Normando
Paula Normando
GKGilberto Kac
Gilberto Kac
This article aims to present general methodological aspects of the Brazilian National Survey on Child Nutrition (ENANI-2019), from the conception of the study design to details of the data collection. This is a household-based population survey with a sample calculated at 15,000 households to identify children under five years of age, conducted in 123 municipalities in Brazil’s 26 states and the Federal District. ENANI-2019 includes data on breastfeeding and dietary intake; anthropometric nutritional status of all children and their biological mothers; and nutritional status concerning the following micronutrients: iron (hemoglobin and ferritin), zinc, selenium, and vitamins A, B1, B6, B12, D, E, and folic acid of children from 6 to 59 months of age. A total of 193,212 households were visited, of which 19,951 were eligible, and 12,524 were included in the study. A total of 14,558 children were studied, of whom 13,990 (96.1%) and 13,921 (95.6%) had their body mass and length/stature measured, respectively, and 14,541 (99.9%) underwent 24-hour dietary recalls (24HR). Of the 12,598 children eligible for blood sample collection, 8,739 (69.3%) had at least one laboratory parameter measured. Data were collected from February 2019 to March 2020, when the survey was interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The evidence produced by the ENANI-2019 survey can back the formulation, follow-up, and/or reorientation of food and nutrition policies such as the promotion of breastfeeding and healthy eating and the prevention and control of different forms of malnutrition.

19 August 2025 in Nutrients
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Journal Article
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ASAMANDA LUÍSA SPILLER
AMANDA LUÍSA SPILLER
BCBeatriz Gabriela da Costa
Beatriz Gabriela da Costa
RYRyan Nunes Yoshio Yoshihara
Ryan Nunes Yoshio Yoshihara
ENEnya Julia Zucari Nogueira
Enya Julia Zucari Nogueira
NCNatalia Salvador Castelhano
Natalia Salvador Castelhano
LSLigia Yukie Sassaki
Ligia Yukie Sassaki
Background/Aims: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), are chronic conditions marked by dysregulated inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Although the pathophysiology of IBD remains incompletely understood, it involves complex interactions between genetic predisposition and environmental triggers, such as gut microbiota imbalances and immune dysfunction, leading to chronic inflammation and mucosal injury. IBD affects approximately 7 million individuals globally, with prevalence increasing in Europe, North America, and Oceania. This rise parallels the growing consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), which are typically rich in sugars, fats, and additives but low in fiber, vitamins, and other essential nutrients. These associations, this review critically examines the influence of UPF consumption on gut microbiota composition and function and its potential link to IBD. Methods: A bibliographic search was conducted in the SciELO, PubMed, and Cochrane databases. Results and Conclusions: High UPF consumption is associated with intestinal dysbiosis, marked by reduced microbial diversity, decreased short-chain fatty acid production, impaired barrier integrity, and mucus layer disruption. These alterations may promote immune-mediated diseases, including IBD, where dysbiosis is often characterized by an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria such as Clostridium and Enterococcus, ultimately triggering inflammatory responses in the host.

1 March 2017 in The Journal of nutrition, health and aging
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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DOD. L. Oliveira
D. L. Oliveira
EMEmilia Addison Machado Moreira
Emilia Addison Machado Moreira
MFMaiara Brusco de Freitas
Maiara Brusco de Freitas
JGJ. de A. Gonçalves
J. de A. Gonçalves
AFA. M. Furkim
A. M. Furkim
Pere ClavéPere Clavé
Pere Clavé
Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the videofluoroscopic (VFS) signs of impaired efficacy (pharyngeal residue) and safety (aspiration) swallowing and the clinical/nutritional status of patients with suspect of dysphagia. Design A cross-sectional study was conducted with patients submitted to videofluoroscopy. Setting and Participants Data of 76 patients were analyzed between March 2011 and December 2014. Measurements The clinical history and VFS exams of patients ≥ 38 years were retrospectively analyzed. Results 88% patients presented Oropharyngeal Dysphagia (OD), 44.7% presented laryngeal penetration and 32% presented aspiration. 78% patients presented pharyngeal residue. Aspiration was associated with Head Neck Cancer (HNC) [Prevalence Ratio (PR): 2.27, p = 0.028] and cardiovascular disease (PR 1.96, p = 0.027). Underweight [Body Mass Index < 18.5 kg/m2] was not associated with the presence of aspiration. Underweight patients with OD had a higher prevalence rate of pharyngeal residue than those normally nourished (100% vs. 78%) (PR 1.34, p = 0.011). Pharyngeal residue was associated with male sex (PR 1.32, p = 0.040), neurodegenerative disease (PR 1.57, p = 0.021), stroke (PR 1.62, p = 0.009), cerebral palsy (PR 1.76, p = 0.006) and HNC (PR 1.73, p = 0.002). Conclusion In the present study, neurologic diseases, HNC, male sex and underweight were associated to impaired swallowing efficacy. Underweight, independently of the other variables, was not associated with impaired swallowing safety.

1 January 2023 in Cadernos de Saude Publica
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ICInês Rugani Ribeiro de Castro
Inês Rugani Ribeiro de Castro
LALuiz Antonio Dos Anjos
Luiz Antonio Dos Anjos
ELElisa Maria de Aquino Lacerda
Elisa Maria de Aquino Lacerda
Cristiano BoccoliniCristiano Boccolini
Cristiano Boccolini
Dayana Rodrigues FariasDayana Rodrigues Farias
Dayana Rodrigues Farias
GKGilberto Kac
Gilberto Kac
This manuscript aims to report the nutrition transition in Brazilian children under 5 years old from 2006 to 2019. Microdata from the Brazilian National Survey on Demography and Health of Women and Children (PNDS 2006) and the Brazilian National Survey on Child Nutrition (ENANI-2019) were analyzed. The indicators considered were: micronutrient status (anemia and vitamin A deficiency), anthropometric status (stunting and excessive weight), and breastfeeding practice (exclusive breastfeeding among children < 6 months and continued breastfeeding among children 12-23 months). We also analyzed minimum dietary diversity (MDD), consumption of ultra-processed foods, consumption of meat or eggs, and not consuming fruits or vegetables in children 6-59 months of age only for ENANI-2019. Equiplot charts were generated according to geographic region, maternal schooling level, and maternal race/skin color. From 2006 to 2019, the prevalence rates of anemia and vitamin A deficiency decreased from 20.5% to 10.1% and 17.2% to 6%, respectively. The prevalence of stunting remained at 7%, and excessive weight rates increased from 6% to 10.1%. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among children < 6 months increased from 38.6% to 45.8%, and of continued breastfeeding among children 12-23 months from 34.6% to 43.6%. In 2019, 61.5% of children achieved the MDD, 88.8% consumed ultra-processed foods, 83.1% consumed meat or egg, and 25.7% did not consume fruits or vegetables the day before the survey. Trends of decreased micronutrient deficiencies, increased breastfeeding, and excessive weight rates, as well as reductions in disparities related to geographic region, maternal schooling level, and maternal race/skin color, were observed for most of the indicators.

1 January 2021 in Cadernos de Saude Publica
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
LALuiz Antonio Dos Anjos
Luiz Antonio Dos Anjos
HFHaroldo Da Silva Ferreira
Haroldo Da Silva Ferreira
NANadya Helena Alves-Santos
Nadya Helena Alves-Santos
MFMaiara Brusco de Freitas
Maiara Brusco de Freitas
Cristiano BoccoliniCristiano Boccolini
Cristiano Boccolini
GKGilberto Kac
Gilberto Kac
The article presents methodological aspects of anthropometric assessment of nutritional status in children under five years of age and their biological mothers. It discusses the strategies used for training and data collection in the Brazilian National Survey on Child Nutrition (ENANI-2019). ENANI-2019 is a population-based household survey conducted in 123 municipalities in Brazil’s 26 states and the Federal District. The anthropometric measurements were body mass and length/stature. The equipment was purchased according to its measurement capacity and precision, portability, and cost-benefit ratio after an extensive market search. The study used internationally established procedures described in manuals, videos, and support material developed for the study by a group of experts. The interviewers were trained to perform the anthropometric measurements and were assessed according to technical measurement error, which was considered adequate (0.30cm) for the children’s length/stature measurements. Measurement errors were identified, and the interviewers were retrained when necessary. Of the 14,558 children in the sample, body mass and length/stature measurements were taken in duplicate in 13,835 and 13,693 children, respectively. The standardized methodological aspects will be helpful in future population studies and were essential for obtaining greater reliability in the data for generating current evidence on the anthropometric assessment of the nutritional status of Brazilian children under five years of age, allowing new perspectives for public policy development.

1 January 2023 in Cadernos de Saude Publica
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
Dayana Rodrigues FariasDayana Rodrigues Farias
Dayana Rodrigues Farias
LALuiz Antonio Dos Anjos
Luiz Antonio Dos Anjos
MFMaiara Brusco de Freitas
Maiara Brusco de Freitas
TBTalita Lelis Berti
Talita Lelis Berti
PAPedro Gomes Andrade
Pedro Gomes Andrade
RSRaquel Machado Schincaglia
Raquel Machado Schincaglia
Malnutrition affects billions of individuals worldwide and represents a global health challenge. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of malnutrition (undernutrition or overweight) among mother-child dyads in children under 5 years old in Brazil in 2019 and to estimate changes in this prevalence from 2006 to 2019. Individual-level data from the Brazilian National Survey on Child Nutrition (ENANI-2019) and the Brazilian National Survey of Demography and Health of Women and Children carried out in 2006 (PNDS 2006) were analyzed. Malnutrition outcomes in mother-child dyads included overweight mother and child, undernourished mother and child, and the double burden of malnutrition, i.e., overweight mother and child having any form of undernourishment (stunting, wasting, or underweight). Prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated. Most women (58.2%) and 9.7% of the children were overweight, 6.9% were stunted, and 3.1% of mothers and 2.9% of the children were underweight. The prevalence of overweight in the mother-child dyad was 7.8% and was statistically higher in Southern Brazil (9.7%; 95%CI: 7.5; 11.9) than in the Central-West (5.4%; 95%CI: 4.3; 6.6). The prevalence of overweight mother and stunted child was 3.5%, with statistically significant difference between the extremes of the mother’s education [0-7 vs. ≥ 12 years, 4.8% (95%CI: 3.2; 6.5) and 2.1%, (95%CI: 1.2; 3.0), respectively]. Overweight in the dyad increased from 5.2% to 7.8%, and the double burden of malnutrition increased from 2.7% to 5.2% since 2006. Malnutrition in Brazilian mother-child dyads seems to be a growing problem, and dyads with lower formal education, higher maternal age, and from the South Region of Brazil were more vulnerable.