Global research landscape and emerging frontiers of ultra-processed food intake and cardiometabolic health: a bibliometric and knowledge-mapping analysis (2015-2025).
- 1Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
- 2Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated Second Hospital, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
Abstract
Objective
Bibliometric and visual analysis of research on ultra-processed food (UPF) intake and cardiometabolic health from 2015 to 2025.Methods
Publications from 2015 to 2025 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) and Scopus databases. Analyses were conducted using R software (bibliometrix package), VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and Origin 2018.Results
Scholarly output in this field demonstrated a continuous growth trajectory throughout the study period, with the steepest rise concentrated between 2020 and 2021. Brazil led in publication output, followed by the United States and China. The University of São Paulo ranked first among contributing institutions. Nutrients, Public Health Nutrition, and Frontiers in Nutrition were the most productive journals, while Public Health Nutrition, Nutrients, and the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition dominated the co-citation network. Prominent keywords included obesity, cardiovascular diseases, children, dietary patterns, and diabetes mellitus, reflecting the central themes of this field. Bibliometric analysis identified three key research hotspots: the association between UPF intake and cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs); the association between UPF consumption and early cardiometabolic impairment in children and adolescents; and mechanisms underlying food matrix disruption and food additive-mediated cardiometabolic dysregulation.Conclusion
Global research interest in the relationship between UPF intake and cardiometabolic health has grown substantially over the past decade. This study provides a comprehensive mapping of the current research landscape, key hotspots, and emerging frontiers in this field, offering a valuable reference for future investigations and public health interventions.
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BibTeX
@article{chen2026global,
title = {{Global research landscape and emerging frontiers of ultra-processed food intake and cardiometabolic health: a bibliometric and knowledge-mapping analysis (2015-2025).}},
author = {Tianao Chen and Ping Ni and Minxin Li and Haijun Ma and Jin Dai and You Yu and Rui Yu},
journal = {Frontiers in nutrition},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fnut.2026.1916253},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42909331},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Global research landscape and emerging frontiers of ultra-processed food intake and cardiometabolic health: a bibliometric and knowledge-mapping analysis (2015-2025).
AU - Tianao Chen
AU - Ping Ni
AU - Minxin Li
AU - Haijun Ma
AU - Jin Dai
AU - You Yu
AU - Rui Yu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/07
JO - Frontiers in nutrition
DO - 10.3389/fnut.2026.1916253
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42909331
AB - Objective Bibliometric and visual analysis of research on ultra-processed food (UPF) intake and cardiometabolic health from 2015 to 2025.Methods Publications from 2015 to 2025 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) and Scopus databases. Analyses were conducted using R software (bibliometrix package), VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and Origin 2018.Results Scholarly output in this field demonstrated a continuous growth trajectory throughout the study period, with the steepest rise concentrated between 2020 and 2021. Brazil led in publication output, followed by the United States and China. The University of São Paulo ranked first among contributing institutions. Nutrients, Public Health Nutrition, and Frontiers in Nutrition were the most productive journals, while Public Health Nutrition, Nutrients, and the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition dominated the co-citation network. Prominent keywords included obesity, cardiovascular diseases, children, dietary patterns, and diabetes mellitus, reflecting the central themes of this field. Bibliometric analysis identified three key research hotspots: the association between UPF intake and cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs); the association between UPF consumption and early cardiometabolic impairment in children and adolescents; and mechanisms underlying food matrix disruption and food additive-mediated cardiometabolic dysregulation.Conclusion Global research interest in the relationship between UPF intake and cardiometabolic health has grown substantially over the past decade. This study provides a comprehensive mapping of the current research landscape, key hotspots, and emerging frontiers in this field, offering a valuable reference for future investigations and public health interventions.
SN - 2296-861X
ER -