Dietary interventions to augment immunity: A bibliometric analysis

Up-to-date, studies have underscored pivotal roles of dietary interventions in modulating immune function. However, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis and synthesis of their findings seems to be absent. To fill this knowledge gap, the relevant publications from 2002 to 2024 were screened out and analyzed using bibliometric quantitative methods. The results illustrate China led in publication volume (76 publications) over the past two decades, with Ocean University of China and Changhu Xue being leading contributors; while Food & Function featured the highest number of articles in this field. Furthermore, the analysis also identified the following research trends, including development of research models and methodologies for evaluating immunity enhancement, increasing number of bioactivities with identified immunoenhancing properties, and the exploration of their underlying mechanisms. Taken together, this comprehensive bibliometric analysis may delineate the thematic trends in this area and offer useful references for identifying novel dietary approaches to augment immunity in future. • Bibliometric analysis showed dietary interventions could be feasible ways to enhance immunology. • This field has witnessed evolving models and methods for testing immune-modulating food ingredients. • A number of bioactive compounds have been identified for enhancing immune functions.