Key result
Bibliometric analysis reveals rising thermogenic fat research, driven by emerging white fat browning and beige fat.
Why the study?
Thermogenic fat regulates energy metabolism and improves obesity-related metabolic diseases, but a systematic analysis of research trends and hotspots in this field was lacking.
This bibliometric analysis highlights the rapid growth and key trends in thermogenic fat research, identifying white fat browning and beige fat as major emerging areas.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Rising thermogenic fat output signals expanding field interest; leaves open clinical translation of beige fat targeting for obesity.
BACKGROUND: Thermogenic fat plays a crucial role in regulating energy metabolism and improving obesity-related metabolic diseases. However, a systematic analysis of the research trends and hotspots in the field of thermogenic fat is lacking. This study aimed to fill this gap by employing bibliometric methods to analyze the global research landscape of thermogenic fat from 2000 to 2023. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection to retrieve publications related to thermogenic fat. Various bibliometric tools (HistCite, CiteSpace, and VOSviewer) were used to analyze and visualize the data, including annual publication trends, geographical distribution, institutional and author contributions, citation analysis, and keyword analysis. RESULTS: A comprehensive search yielded a total of 5246 English-language articles, revealing a significant upward trend in the number of publications focused on thermogenic fat over the past 24 years. The United States stands out as the most productive country, with Harvard University emerging as the leading research institution in this field. Bruce M. Spiegelman was identified as a pivotal figure in advancing thermogenic fat research. The journals that have published the highest number of articles in this field include Molecular Metabolism, Journal of Biological Chemistry, and Scientific Reports, with Cell Metabolism receiving the highest number of citations. The primary research keywords cluster into 9 distinct categories, with the most frequently occurring terms being "obesity," "brown adipose tissue," "thermogenesis," "brown adipocytes," "energy expenditure," "browning," "UCP1," "beige fat," and "type 2 diabetes." Notably, white fat browning and beige fat have emerged as cutting-edge research trends. CONCLUSION: This investigation provides a comprehensive overview of the global research trends in thermogenic fat through bibliometric analysis. Enhanced insights into the historical development and evolutionary trajectory of this field offer a novel perspective on potential future research avenues. The findings of this study are poised to serve as an invaluable resource for researchers, thereby fostering continued advancement in the study of thermogenic fat.
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Xie et al. (2026) conducted a review in Thermogenic fat (n=5,246). Thermogenic fat research was evaluated on Research trends, geographical distribution, institutional contributions, citation analysis, and keyword analysis. A bibliometric analysis of 5,246 articles revealed a significant upward trend in thermogenic fat research from 2000 to 2023, with white fat browning and beige fat emerging as cutting-edge trends.
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