Mapping arterial stiffness metabolic biomarkers: a bibliometric analysis

Abstract

Background: Metabolomics 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. Methods: This 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. Results: A 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. Conclusion: This 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.