Global Research Trends in Dietary Polyphenols for Preventing Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases: A Bibliometric Study

Dietary polyphenols, a diverse group of plant-derived bioactives, are widely investigated for their potential to prevent non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs), but the structure and evolution of this research field remain unclear. This bibliometric study analyzed 3280 publications on dietary polyphenols and NCDs retrieved from Web of Science Core Collection, PubMed/MEDLINE, and DOAJ (1998-2024) to characterize temporal growth, global contributions, thematic hotspots, and the underlying journal knowledge base. Annual output rose from 13 papers in 1998 to more than 160 per year since 2016, indicating a transition from early expansion to a mature yet active stage. Research is led by teams in the United States, China, Japan, and Western Europe, with increasing participation from Brazil, India, Iran, and other emerging economies, but limited representation from sub-Saharan Africa. Network and keyword analyses show that the literature is dominated by mechanistic in vitro and animal studies on oxidative stress, inflammation, and signaling pathways, alongside disease-focused themes in cancer and cardiometabolic prevention. Recent hotspots include metabolic syndrome, obesity, high-fat diet models, gut microbiota, and polyphenol-rich dietary patterns, whereas large, long-term human intervention trials remain relatively scarce. This study underscores the need for integrative, human-focused, and globally inclusive research programs that test realistic polyphenol-rich diets on clinically relevant NCD outcomes, and provides a quantitative map to guide priority-setting for future nutrition and chronic disease research.