Gut microbiota in necrotizing enterocolitis: a bibliometric and visualization analysis

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Medicine
• Microbiology
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a critical gastrointestinal disease in neonates, particularly preterm and very low birth weight infants.
• Gut microbiota dysbiosis is increasingly recognized as a significant factor in NEC development.
• Bibliometric analyses on the gut microbiota and NEC research landscape are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of research on gut microbiota and NEC from 1996 to 2024.
• To map the evolution of this research field, identify key contributors, and pinpoint emerging trends.
• To provide insights for future research directions in microbiota-based NEC interventions.

Main Methods:

• Literature retrieval from Web of Science Core Collection (articles and reviews).
• Bibliometric analysis using Python, CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix (R-Tool).
• Visualization of journals, countries, authors, institutions, keywords, and influential papers.

Main Results:

• 555 articles published between 1996-2024, with significant growth post-2009.
• The United States and China are leading contributors; key journals include Frontiers in Pediatrics and Nutrients.
• Research trends focus on NEC pathogenesis, probiotics, breast milk, and multi-omics biomarkers, with keywords like "premature infants" and "gut microbiota" being prominent.

Conclusions:

• Gut microbiota dysbiosis is central to NEC pathogenesis in preterm infants.
• Probiotics and breast milk are promising therapeutic targets for restoring microbial balance and intestinal defense.
• Further research is needed on microbiota-based interventions, their safety, and mechanistic understanding in neonates.