Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a major global public health challenge and a key risk factor for adverse reproductive, metabolic, and cardiovascular outcomes during reproductive age. Over the past decade, research on MetS has increasingly incorporated hormonal, nutritional, and reproductive health perspectives; however, the global structure, growth, and thematic evolution of this literature remain insufficiently characterized. Objective: This study aimed to systematically map global research trends, productivity patterns, collaboration networks, and thematic focuses related to MetS in reproductive-aged populations using bibliometric methods. Methods: A bibliometric analysis was conducted using publications retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science Core Collection between 2021 and 2026. After applying predefined inclusion criteria and removing duplicates, 1501 English-language research articles were included. Bibliometric performance indicators and science-mapping analyses were performed using the bibliometrix package and Biblioshiny interface in R. Results: The analysis revealed rapid growth in publications between 2021 and 2024, followed by an apparent decline in 2026 attributable to incomplete indexing. Research output was highly collaborative, with an average of 7.25 authors per document. China and the United States dominated global production, while increasing contributions were observed from Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia. Core research themes clustered around metabolic regulation, nutrition, hormonal pathways, and reproductive health. Conclusions: Global research on MetS in reproductive-aged populations is expanding rapidly and becoming increasingly multidisciplinary. Nevertheless, geographic concentration and limited international collaboration highlight the need for broader global engagement to inform effective prevention and management strategies across diverse populations.
Ismagulova et al. (Wed,) studied this question.