The Role of Gut Microbiota Interventions in the Management of Frailty Syndrome: A Scoping Review and Bibliometric Analysis.

AIM: The primary aim of this scoping review is to synthesize fragmented evidence on gut microbiota-targeted interventions for frailty. As a complementary objective, we conducted a bibliometric analysis to map the evolving knowledge landscape of this interdisciplinary field, thereby informing the development of future personalized therapeutic strategies and research priorities.

METHODS

We searched nine databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang, SinoMed, and VIP) from inception to July 2025 for the scoping review. A dedicated search of the Web of Science Core Collection (up to September 2025) was conducted for the bibliometric analysis to ensure data consistency. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data. Bibliometric analyses (collaboration networks, keyword co-occurrence, and research trends) and visualizations were performed using CiteSpace (v6.3.R1).

RESULTS

The scoping review screened 3216 records and included 10 studies. Interventions-probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation-lasted 4 weeks to 6 months. Frailty was mainly assessed using Fried's phenotype, with outcomes covering frailty severity, physical function, gut microbiota composition, and inflammatory/metabolic markers. Bibliometric analysis identified 358 publications, revealing a sharp rise after 2016. China produced the most studies, and the University of Parma was the top institution. Key themes included gut microbiota, frailty, aging, inflammation, and sarcopenia.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the rapidly growing interest, gut microbiota-targeted interventions represent a promising strategy to slow frailty progression. Future efforts should therefore focus on establishing standardized, multidisciplinary assessment frameworks and elucidating the underlying mechanisms to advance precision nutrition for healthy aging.