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REVIEW article

Front. Microbiol.
Sec. Microorganisms in Vertebrate Digestive Systems
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1523809

The Impact of Bariatric Surgery on Gut Microbiota: A Bibliometric Analysis of Research Trends and Scientific Contributions

Provisionally accepted
Shuaichang Gong Shuaichang Gong 1Xiabiao Zhang Xiabiao Zhang 2Xiaoliang Chen Xiaoliang Chen 1Ping Wan Ping Wan 1Longfei Zhou Longfei Zhou 1Jun Zhang Jun Zhang 1*
  • 1 Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
  • 2 Nanchang University, Nanchang, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background: Obesity is a prevalent global disease closely linked to various chronic conditions. Bariatric surgery (BS) is currently recognized as the most effective treatment. Increasing evidence suggests that BS alters the gut microbiota (GM), which plays a crucial role in postoperative weight loss. However, there has been no systematic bibliometric analysis exploring the relationship between BS and GM to date. Methods: We conducted a literature search on BS and GM from January 1, 1981, to May 25, 2024, within the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). We utilized Excel 2021, VOSviewer 1.6.19, CiteSpace 6.2.R3, and the R package "bibliometrix" 4.3.0, along with the online bibliometric analysis platform (https://bibliometric.com/app), to visualize publishing trends and research hotspots in this field. Results: A total of 2,542 articles meeting the criteria were included. Since 2015, the rate of publication has significantly accelerated. The United States leads in both the number of publications and average citations per article. The University of São Paulo is the most active institution, whereas the University of Copenhagen has the highest average citation count. Obesity Surgery is the journal with the highest number of publications, and the most prolific author is Karine Clement. Keyword and thematic analyses indicate that "gut microbiota" and "bariatric surgery" are the primary research hotspots for future studies. Conclusion: In summary, this field is garnering increasing attention. Our findings suggest that future research will likely focus on the effects of bariatric surgery on gut microbiota and its biological mechanisms, the role of gut microbiota in the weight loss process, and the development of combined treatments based on gut microbiota.

    Keywords: Obesity, Bariatric Surgery, Gut Microbiota, bibliometric analysis, metabolic syndrome

    Received: 06 Nov 2024; Accepted: 08 Jan 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 Gong, Zhang, Chen, Wan, Zhou and Zhang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Jun Zhang, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.