From autism to obesity and beyond: mapping global trends and gaps in pediatric gut microbiota interventions-a bibliometric analysis.

BACKGROUND

Pediatric gut microbiota interventions are increasingly applied in conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), obesity, and malnutrition; however, the global research structure and thematic trends remain unclear. This study aimed to map the global research landscape of pediatric gut microbiota interventions from 2010 to 2025, characterizing publication trends, geographic and institutional distribution, collaboration networks, and thematic evolution, in order to identify research hotspots and evidence gaps that should guide future priorities.

METHODS

Publications from January 1, 2010, to June 30, 2025, were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) using predefined search terms. Microsoft Excel 2021, VOSviewer 1.6.19, CiteSpace 6.2.4, and the R package bibliometrix 4.0.0 were employed to analyze publication trends, geographic distribution, institutional and author collaborations, highly cited works, and keyword co-occurrence.

RESULTS

A total of 1,915 articles involving 12,308 authors across 546 journals were identified, citing 39,956 references and generating 3,510 unique keywords. Global output has increased markedly over 15 years, with China and the United States forming a "dual-core" dominance. Only 27.12% of the studies resulted from multi-country (international) collaborations, indicating limited cross-regional partnerships. Research hotspots have centered on ASD, obesity, and nutritional disorders, while developmental and behavioral outcomes have been underrepresented. Personalized nutrition, microbiota-brain-behavior links, and multi-omics integration have emerged as growing themes.

CONCLUSIONS

This bibliometric study maps the global landscape of pediatric gut microbiota interventions, revealing rapid expansion but thematic imbalance. Greater multinational collaboration and broader inclusion of developmental health endpoints emerge as key priorities for the future research agenda.