Global Research Trends on Feeding Fermented Foods to Children: A Bibliometric Analysis from 1995 to 2024
1
Quality Management Directorate, Walter Sisulu University, Komani, South Africa
2
Public Health, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
This study addresses the increasing scientific interest in fermented foods and their impact on child health, motivated by rising concerns about malnutrition and gastrointestinal health. The central focus is the usage of fermented foods for feeding children and its nutritional implications. The purpose was to analyse research trends, collaboration networks, and emerging gaps to inform future studies and policies.
METHODS:
A bibliometric analysis was conducted on 126 publications from 1995 to 2024, sourced from Web of Science and Scopus. Data analysis was performed by Biblioshiny, a web-based interface for Bibliometrix, as well as VOSviewer.
RESULTS:
The annual growth rate of publications between 1995 and 2024 was 10.26%, with an average document age of 5.98 years. The United States contributed the most publications (53), followed by India and Japan with 28 each, and Italy (26). Likewise, international collaboration rate was 23.81%, indicating a moderate level of global cooperation in the field. Similarly, the average number of citations per document was 24.81, indicating a solid level of impact for the analysed research. A total of 681 authors contributed to the field, with an average of 5.77 co-authors per paper. The highest-ranked paper by Teucher (2004) has accumulated 310 total citations (TC), with a normalized TC of 1.87. The analysis revealed a growing body of research on fermented foods and child health.
CONCLUSIONS:
This study underscores the expanding interest in fermented foods as a strategy to address child malnutrition and gastrointestinal health issues. The findings explicitly connect bibliometric clusters to key outcomes in child feeding, including diarrheal disease reduction and enhanced nutrient utilization. It provides actionable insights for future research directions and policy development in this area.
This study addresses the increasing scientific interest in fermented foods and their impact on child health, motivated by rising concerns about malnutrition and gastrointestinal health. The central focus is the usage of fermented foods for feeding children and its nutritional implications. The purpose was to analyse research trends, collaboration networks, and emerging gaps to inform future studies and policies.
METHODS:
A bibliometric analysis was conducted on 126 publications from 1995 to 2024, sourced from Web of Science and Scopus. Data analysis was performed by Biblioshiny, a web-based interface for Bibliometrix, as well as VOSviewer.
RESULTS:
The annual growth rate of publications between 1995 and 2024 was 10.26%, with an average document age of 5.98 years. The United States contributed the most publications (53), followed by India and Japan with 28 each, and Italy (26). Likewise, international collaboration rate was 23.81%, indicating a moderate level of global cooperation in the field. Similarly, the average number of citations per document was 24.81, indicating a solid level of impact for the analysed research. A total of 681 authors contributed to the field, with an average of 5.77 co-authors per paper. The highest-ranked paper by Teucher (2004) has accumulated 310 total citations (TC), with a normalized TC of 1.87. The analysis revealed a growing body of research on fermented foods and child health.
CONCLUSIONS:
This study underscores the expanding interest in fermented foods as a strategy to address child malnutrition and gastrointestinal health issues. The findings explicitly connect bibliometric clusters to key outcomes in child feeding, including diarrheal disease reduction and enhanced nutrient utilization. It provides actionable insights for future research directions and policy development in this area.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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