Currently submitted to: Interactive Journal of Medical Research
Date Submitted: Apr 6, 2026
Open Peer Review Period: Apr 9, 2026 - Jun 4, 2026
(currently open for review)
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Toward Digital Biomarkers: A Bibliometric Analysis of Gut Microbiota–Derived Metabolic Signatures in Preterm Birth (2006–2025)
ABSTRACT
Background:
Preterm birth (PTB) remains a major global health challenge and a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Increasing evidence suggests that gut microbiota–derived metabolites play a crucial role in maternal–fetal health. Over the past two decades, research in this field has evolved from taxonomic descriptions toward functional and metabolic mechanisms, yet a systematic understanding of this transition remains limited.
Objective:
This study aimed to systematically characterize the global research landscape on gut microbiota and preterm birth from 2006 to 2025, with a focus on identifying the shift from taxonomic associations to metabolite-centered functional mechanisms and highlighting emerging translational directions.
Methods:
A bibliometric analysis was conducted using data retrieved from Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, and PubMed. Publications between 2006 and 2025 were analyzed using the bibliometrix package in R. Analytical approaches included annual publication trend analysis, country and collaboration analysis, keyword co-occurrence networks, thematic evolution analysis, and burst keyword detection. Cross-database validation was performed to ensure the robustness of emerging research themes.
Results:
A total of 479 core publications were identified, showing a non-linear growth trend with a marked increase after 2018. Early studies primarily focused on taxonomic descriptions of microbial composition, whereas more recent research emphasized functional and metabolic pathways. Keyword and thematic analyses revealed that microbiota-derived metabolites, immune regulation, and probiotic interventions have become central research themes. Cross-database validation confirmed consistent trends, highlighting a transition toward metabolite-centered mechanisms in the field.
Conclusions:
Research on gut microbiota and preterm birth has gradually shifted from descriptive taxonomic approaches to function-oriented and metabolite-driven perspectives. Microbiome-derived metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids and tryptophan metabolites, emerge as potential mediators linking microbial activity to host outcomes. These findings provide a conceptual foundation for developing digital biomarkers and data-driven risk prediction models in maternal–fetal health, supporting future integration with mHealth platforms for early monitoring and intervention. Clinical Trial: Not applicable
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