Mapping arterial stiffness metabolic biomarkers: a bibliometric analysis

Abstract

BackgroundMetabolomics enables systematic quantification of small-molecule dynamics underlying cardiovascular pathophysiology, offering mechanistic insights into arterial stiffness. This study aimed to identify the scientific output related to metabolome in arterial stiffness.MethodsThis study conducted a bibliometric analysis of publications (2000–March 2025) indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection using VOSviewer and Bibliometrix. Analyses spanned country/institution contributions, authorship networks, journal impact, and keyword/abstract trends.ResultsA total of 1,654 original and review papers in English published in 550 different journals by 1,566 institutions were found. Over the past two decades, there has been a significant increase in the number of publications, with seminal work by Maksim et al. demonstrating metabolite associations with arterial stiffness, particularly oxidized low-density lipoprotein. The United States led with 246 articles (14.9%), followed by China (209, 12.6%) and Japan (134, 8.1%). Keyword analysis revealed saturation in advanced vascular aging research (elderly populations, hypertension, stroke), while early vascular aging studies—particularly in youth people—remained underrepresented. A frequency analysis of abstract words identified uric acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and bile acids as potential metabolic biomarkers. Text-mining identified uric acid, fatty acids and bile acids as priority biomarkers, with unsaturated fatty acids (e.g., eicosapentaenoic acid, arachidonic acid) dominating mechanistic investigations.ConclusionThis first bibliometric profile of arterial stiffness metabolomics highlights fatty acid metabolism as a mature focus, contrasted by emerging opportunities in bile acid and gut microbiota-derived metabolite research. Bridging gaps in early vascular aging cohorts and understudied microbial-host metabolic pathways may unlock novel therapeutic strategies for vascular rejuvenation.