Associations between prevalent unhealthy lifestyles and the gut microbiota: a comprehensive multi-database bibliometric analysis of pathogenic mechanisms and clinical trajectories

Background: Unhealthy lifestyles are associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis through complex inflammatory and immune-related pathways. Despite extensive primary research, comprehensive big-data syntheses mapping this field remain limited. This study systematically analyzes the research landscape, related pathophysiological processes, and emerging trends in the field of lifestyle-microbiome interactions using a multi-database bibliometric framework. Methods: A dual-database retrieval strategy utilized the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) and PubMed. The analysis targeted five predominant unhealthy lifestyles: smoking, alcohol consumption, sleep disorders, sedentary behavior, and high-sugar diets. A primary dataset of 5,380 records published between January 1, 2001, and March 13, 2026, was extracted from WoSCC. A parallel clinical analysis incorporated 172 targeted studies from PubMed. Bibliometric analyses, encompassing publication trends, network topologies, citation bursts, keyword evolution, and clinical trajectories, were performed and visualized using Microsoft Excel 2024, VOSviewer, CiteSpace, SCImago, and R. Results: Publication output exhibited exponential growth from 2001 to 2026. China and the United States emerged as the dominant academic contributors. Thematic analyses identified inflammation, oxidative stress, obesity, metabolic dysfunction, and microbiome-associated metabolomics as core pathophysiological nodes. The literature frequently describes these elements as mediating the association between behavioral exposures and microbial dysbiosis. Clinical research trajectories demonstrated an evolution toward high-rigor methodological designs, systemic blood biomarker integration, and demographic stratification. The bibliometric data highlight targeted lifestyle intervention as a heavily researched non-pharmacological strategy for gut microbiota preservation. Conclusion: This multi-database bibliometric study delineates the structural landscape of research on the association between unhealthy lifestyles and the gut microbiota. Inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic dysfunction emerge as central themes within the existing literature. These findings provide a systematic framework for understanding microenvironmental interactions and offer valuable insights to inform future research and the development of precise, lifestyle-oriented strategies for gastrointestinal health.