The gut microbiome in human health and disease-Where are we and where are we going? A bibliometric analysis.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Bibliometric analysis of published literature without clinical or primary experimental data (graded by design analogy).
PubMed 36590421 · doi:10.3389/fmicb.2022.1018594
What was done
Authors performed a bibliometric search in the Web of Science Core Collection using the search term "gut microbiome" and its synonyms. CiteSpace was used to evaluate publication trends, author/institutional/national collaboration networks, co-citation patterns, and keyword citation bursts.
What was found
The search retrieved 29,870 articles and 13,311 reviews from 4,251 journals, involving 147,225 authors, 19,065 institutions, 176 countries/regions, and 42,900 keywords. The United States had the highest publication volume and international collaboration. Research predominantly focused on gastrointestinal diseases (inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease), with increasing attention to extra-intestinal conditions (obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease). Omics technologies, fecal microbiota transplantation, and bacterial metabolites were identified as major emerging focus areas.
Why it matters
This study provides a quantitative overview of the gut microbiome field, tracking its structural evolution and shifting focus from localized intestinal pathology to systemic and neurodegenerative disorders.
Limits
The analysis was limited to a single database (Web of Science Core Collection) and relies on publication and citation counts, which reflect academic interest and volume rather than methodological rigor or the clinical validity of individual findings.
Cited by
- supports The human gut microbiome consists of trillions of microorganisms that line the digestive tract and impact immune status, metabolic health, and hormone health.