A bibliometric analysis of trace elements and diabetic kidney disease: scientific hotspots and research evolution

The role of trace elements, including zinc, selenium, iron, copper, cadmium, lead, and other essential or toxic elements, in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) has become increasingly recognized because of their effects on oxidative stress, metabolic regulation, and renal dysfunction. However, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of research trends and molecular insights into these interactions is still lacking. This study presents a bibliometric analysis of publications from 1981 to 2025 using WoSCC, and data were analyzed using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the Bibliometric Online Analysis Platform (http://bibliometric.com/) to generate scientometric visualizations. A thorough analysis and visualization of 373 research papers on the relationship between trace elements and DKD published between 1981 and 2025 were conducted, revealing emerging research hotspots and trends. Initially, there were very few studies in this field. However, a significant increase in research interest followed in subsequent years, ultimately peaking in 2025 with 70 publications. Research in this field is mainly concentrated in Asia, particularly in China, which has the highest number of corresponding authors. International collaboration has also greatly increased citation impact. Key research topics include oxidative stress, metabolic disorders, and recently ferroptosis and cuproptosis as new molecular mechanisms in DKD. This study provides a data-driven analysis of the evolving research landscape, offering insights into the future directions of trace element-related DKD studies, particularly in understanding the transition from environmental toxicology to molecular intervention.