A Bibliometric and Knowledge-map Analysis of Gut Microbiota in Cardiovascular Diseases from 2006 to 2024

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease continues to be a leading cause of death and morbidity worldwide. The study employed bibliometric and knowledge-mapping analyses to explore research trends in cardiovascular disease, identifying emerging hotspots and offering new perspectives for scholars. The study conducted a comprehensive search within the WOSCC on December 28th, 2024, to retrieve articles and reviews that explore the association between gut microbiota and cardiovascular diseases. Citespace and VOSviewer were used to conduct the bibliometric and knowledge-map analysis. The analysis encompassed 1,680 studies published across 289 academic journals, authored by 9,865 researchers from 277 institutions spanning 103 countries/regions. The United States, China, Italy, and India emerged as the leading contributors, with the most cited institutions including the University of California system, INSERM, the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, and Southern Medical University (China). Among journals, Nutrients published the highest number of studies, while Nature, Gut, and the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition were the most frequently co-cited. The most prominent research focus centered on biochemistry and molecular biology, with four key cardiovascular conditions: heart failure, cardiometabolic disorders, infarction, and hypertension. GO and KEGG pathway analyses further revealed 30 critical biological processes and 21 signaling pathways linked to gut microbiota and cardiovascular disease. Additionally, PPI network analysis highlighted IFNG, IL10, TLR4, INS, TNF, IL6, IL1β, APOE, and AGT as potential core therapeutic targets for future research. Our analyses elucidated key research trends linking gut microbiota to cardiovascular diseases, highlighting metabolic modulation and prebiotic supplementation as promising therapeutic strategies.