TRENDS AND RESEARCH FRONTIERS ON GUT MICROBIOTA AND STUNTING: A BIBLIOMETRIC INSIGHT FROM 2009 TO 2025

BACKGROUND: Stunting, a chronic consequence of undernutrition, continues to affect millions of children under five years of age worldwide, particularly in developing countries, with long-term impacts on physical growth, cognitive development, and economic productivity. METHODS: This study provides a bibliometric analysis of 172 publications indexed in Scopus from 2009 to 2025, aiming to identify trends, key contributors, core sources, thematic evolution, and future research directions in this emerging field. RESULTS: Results indicate a steady annual growth rate of 11.85%, with peak publication output in 2021, reflecting global attention. Influential contributions were led by Gordon JI, Barratt MJ, and Ahmed T, with the United States, France, Bangladesh, China, and Indonesia identified as the most active countries, and institutions such as Washington University and the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research (Bangladesh) playing pivotal roles. The most productive journals included PLOS ONE, Frontiers in Microbiology, Nutrients, and Gut Microbes, with Subramanian S serving as the foundational reference. Keyword analysis revealed a thematic shift from "malnutrition" and "stunting" toward mechanistic terms such as "dysbiosis," "environmental enteric dysfunction," and interventions including "probiotics" and "prebiotics." Emerging themes highlight moderate acute malnutrition and microbiota-directed interventions as promising frontiers. CONCLUSION: This bibliometric analysis provides valuable insights into research trends, influential contributors, and emerging areas, offering a foundation for guiding future studies and supporting global strategies to address stunting as a critical public health challenge.