Bibliometric and Visual Analysis of Research in Food Insecurity and Malnutrition

Food insecurity (FI) is defined as a multifaceted condition encompassing limited or uncertain access to safe food, adequate availability, utilization, and stability of nutritionally appropriate foods-shaped by economic disadvantage, social inequities, climate shocks, and health crises like epidemics. It is particularly prevalent among vulnerable populations and directly drives malnutrition as well as other adverse health outcomes. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of the evolution of research on FI and its linkage to malnutrition, identifying principal authors, scientific collaborations, and thematic trends.

A bibliometric analysis was conducted of 570 relevant articles indexed in Web of Science (1991-2024), focusing on original research examining the FI-malnutrition nexus. The R package programme, VOSviewer, and WOS analytical tools were employed for data extraction, network analysis, and visualization.

The analysis revealed an annual growth rate of 8.87%, with publication output surging after 2009 and peaking in 2020 (55 articles). The USA dominated research production (n = 232 studies), yet 47.89% of studies involved international collaborations, primarily targeting low- and middle-income populations. The average citation rate was 28.0 per article, with thematic shifts toward HIV/AIDS (post-2009) and COVID-19 (post-2019) alongside persistent focus on poverty.

FI-malnutrition research is shaped by both structural drivers (poverty, inequality) and health crises (HIV, COVID-19). Despite geographic disparities in research leadership (Global North) versus study populations (Global South), the field shows strong cross-border collaboration-highlighting opportunities for more equitable partnerships.