Nutrition as a Foundation for Human Capital Bibliometric Evidence and its Impact on Child Health and Development

Introduction. Child nutrition is crucial in developing human capital, affecting physical growth, cognitive development, and long-term health consequences. This study aims to analyzes worldwide research trends in child nutrition from 2016 to 2025, emphasizing principal contributors, topic goals, and research deficiencies. Methods. A bibliometric study was performed using the Scopus database, extracting 276 articles and reviews in English published in the domains of medicine and health. Data were examined using VOS viewer (version 1.1.20) to illustrate publishing patterns, prominent nations, institutions, authors, journals, highly cited works, and networks of keyword co-occurrence. Results and Discussion. Research production consistently rose from 2016, reaching a zenith of 223 articles in 2022, followed by a significant decline in 2024–2025. The United States dominated publishing volume, followed by the United Kingdom, Canada, and India, with little contribution from emerging nations. Prominent institutions include the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and UNICEF. G. Kac was the most prolific author, while the *American Journal of Clinical Nutrition* had the most significant citation impact. Prominently referenced papers focused on clinical nutrition protocols, pediatric health, and public health strategies. Keyword mapping identified significant themes such as exclusive breastfeeding, micronutrient supplementation, childhood obesity prevention, maternal-child health, and public health education. Conclusion. Global research on child nutrition has expanded in size and breadth, including clinical, public health, and behavioral aspects. Nonetheless, enduring gaps between wealthy and developing nations underscore the need for more equitable research contributions. These results provide a basis for targeted measures to improve child nutrition, mitigate malnutrition, and promote health equity globally.