Research Trends and Hotspots in Mendelian Randomization Studies of Liver Diseases: A Bibliometric and Visualization Analysis

Abstract

Abstract This study conducted a bibliometric analysis of Mendelian randomization (MR) research in liver diseases from 2014 to 2025 using the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) and PubMed databases. A total of 304 WoSCC records and 10 clinical studies were included. Publications showed a steady upward trend, with China contributing the most (n=251), followed by the United States and United Kingdom. Zhejiang University led institutional output (n=18), and Chen Lanlan was the most prolific author (n=8). Frontiers in Endocrinology was the most productive journal (n=21). Current hotspots include gut microbiota, metabolism, and insulin resistance. Clinical studies focused on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), covering risk factors, comorbidities, and clinical outcomes. This is the first comprehensive bibliometric study in this field, providing a reliable reference for future research directions. However, the generalizability of our findings is constrained by the coverage scope of the databases and the language of the included literature, which may introduce selection bias. In addition, the causal inferences drawn from the included MR studies are subject to the validity of instrumental variables and the generalizability across populations, which may limit the applicability of our conclusions.