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A bibliometric analysis and visualization of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease from 2012 to 2021

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Abstract

As a common chronic liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has attracted increasing attention in the past decade. Nevertheless, there are few bibliometric analyses that systematically study this field as a whole. This paper explores the latest research progress and future research trends of NAFLD through the method of bibliometric analysis. The articles related to NAFLD, published from 2012 to 2021 in the Web of Science Core Collections, were searched on February 21, 2022, using relevant keywords. Two different scientometrics software tools were used to conduct the knowledge maps of NAFLD research field. A total of 7975 articles on NAFLD research were included. From 2012 to 2021, the publications related to NAFLD increased by year. China ranked on the top of the list with 2043 publications, and the University of California System emerged as the premier institution in this field. PLOs One, Journal of Hepatology and Scientific Reports became the prolific journals in this research field. Co-cited reference analysis revealed the landmark literature in this research field. In terms of potential hotspots, the burst keywords analysis revealed that liver fibrosis stage, sarcopenia, and autophagy will become the focus of future NAFLD research. The annual output of the global publications in the field of NAFLD research showed a strong upward trend. Research in the field of NAFLD in China and America is more mature than in other countries. Classic literature lays the foundation for research, and multi-field studies provide the new development directions. And besides, fibrosis stage, sarcopenia and autophagy research are the hot spots and frontiers of this field.

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Funding

This work was supported by the State Key Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82030116) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81703376).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medical Technology, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, West Area, Tuanbo New Town, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, People’s Republic of China

    Zhipeng Li, Shaoli Zhao & Ning Kang

  2. State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, People’s Republic of China

    Shijie Cao

  3. Tianjin State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, People’s Republic of China

    Shijie Cao

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  1. Zhipeng Li
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  4. Ning Kang
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ZL was responsible for methodology and writing. SC and SZ contributed to the data analysis and draft writing. NK designed and supervised the study.

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Correspondence to Ning Kang.

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Li, Z., Cao, S., Zhao, S. et al. A bibliometric analysis and visualization of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease from 2012 to 2021. Clin Exp Med 23, 1961–1971 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10238-023-01023-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10238-023-01023-2

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