Trends, collaboration, and impact of scientific research on the Mediterranean diet during pregnancy

The Mediterranean diet (MED) is well recognized for its general health benefits and, specifically, during pregnancy, where it may reduce risks such as gestational diabetes, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm birth, and low birth weight. It is also associated with improved maternal metabolic, psychological, and immune outcomes. This study analyzes the scientific production on MED during pregnancy.

descriptive bibliometric study was conducted on original articles addressing MED in pregnant women, published in Scopus (2015-2024). Predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, selecting 211 documents. We used SciVal and Bibliometrix (RStudio) to estimate production, bibliometric impact, and collaboration network indicators; Bradford's law to identify core journals; and MS Excel for trend analysis.

Scientific output has shown sustained growth over the last decade, concentrated in Q1 journals such as Nutrients, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, and Frontiers in Nutrition. Spain led in volume and impact, with consolidated networks involving institutions such as Harvard University. National co-authorship showed higher average impact than international collaborations. Latin America, Africa, and much of Asia were underrepresented, limiting the global applicability of findings.

Research on the Mediterranean diet during pregnancy has shown consolidation in both volume and impact, driven by scientific advances and the inclusion of this dietary pattern in clinical guidelines. However, geographic, and thematic gaps remain, requiring more inclusive, multicenter, and population-diverse research agendas to maximize global relevance and applicability.