Global Research Trends of Gut Microbiota in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Bibliometric and Visualized Analysis

Objective: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a metabolic condition that imposes a great economic burden on the global scale and poses great risks to the health of both mothers and babies. Studies on the role of intestinal microbiota in diabetes are remarkable. This study aims to analyze the trends and basic components in studies investigating the relationship between diabetes and intestinal flora. Methods: Publications on intestinal microbiota in GDM were obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection database (WoS) on February 14, 2024, covering the period from 2009, when the first study on this subject was conducted, to the present. RStudio (Biblioshiny) and VOSviewer (1.6.17) software were used in the bibliometric analysis. Editorial material, reviews, and letters were not included in the study. Results: A total of 254 articles were obtained in this study. Although the number of publications has been increasing since 2017, the most studies on the subject were conducted in 2022 with 56 scientific articles. Endocrine metabolism is the field with the most publications. The most frequently used terms, as determined by the commonality analysis, are gut microbiota, obesity, and pregnancy. Conclusions: This is the first bibliometric analysis on gut microbiota in GDM. Studies on gut microbiota in GDM have only been conducted in the last 16 years. Research on GDM and gut microbiota is increasing and attracting more and more attention from researchers. Looking ahead, it is clear that gut microbiota will continue to be a central focus in the field of diabetes research.