Global Research Trends on the Relationship Between Metabolic Syndrome and Mental Health: A Bibliometric and Visual Analysis (2000–2025)

Background The bidirectional relationship between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and mental health has emerged as a critical public health concern. However, no comprehensive bibliometric analysis has systematically mapped the knowledge structure and evolutionary trajectory of this interdisciplinary field. Objective This study aims to examine the relationship between MetS and mental health through a systematic bibliometric analysis, identifying research hotspots and emerging trends. Methods Literature from the Web of Science Core Collection (January 2000 to June 2025) was analyzed using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the bibliometrix package in R to examine publication trends, collaboration networks, research hotspots, molecular mechanisms, and disease association patterns. Results Analysis of 18,647 publications from 138 countries/regions revealed a 45.7-fold increase in annual publications, from 29 articles in 2000 to 1,324 in 2024, with 46.73% published in the past five years. The United States was ranked first in publication volume (26.75%) and network centrality. Keyword analysis identified 16 thematic clusters, with “inflammation” rising from ninth to fourth position across study periods. “Gut microbiota” emerged prominently post-2016, while “COVID-19” became a burst keyword after 2020. Molecular network analysis identified interleukin-6, insulin, and tumor necrosis factor as central hub proteins. Disease co-occurrence analysis demonstrated strong associations between MetS and depression and between insulin resistance and anxiety. Conclusion This analysis reveals rapid, accelerating growth in MetS–mental health research, with inflammation and the gut–brain axis as pivotal mechanistic links. Future priorities include elucidating the functional mechanisms of the gut microbiome and developing targeted interventions for shared pathological pathways. These findings provide a framework for identifying research priorities in this evolving field.