Current Trends and Future Directions in Camellia sinensis Research on Weight Management and Obesity Related Outcomes: A Twenty-Year Overview and Bibliometric Analysis
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Abstract
Camellia sinensis (tea) is widely consumed and has been extensively investigated for its potential to support weight management, particularly because of the bioactive catechin epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). We conducted a bibliometric analysis to map the scope, productivity, collaboration patterns, citation impact, and thematic evolution of research on Camellia sinensis and obesity-related outcomes. We retrieved records indexed in Scopus for 2005–2024 using terms for Camellia sinensis, major tea types, and obesity. After excluding non-original publications, we analysed 897 original research articles with VOSviewer (version 1.6.20) and the Biblioshiny R package, including co-occurrence, collaboration, and citation networks. Annual output increased from 21 articles in 2005 to a peak of 80 in 2020. China produced the most publications (n = 182), while the United States achieved the greatest total citation impact. The leading sources were Nutrients, Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, and Food & Function; the most prolific authors were Wang Y, Liu Z, and Zhang Y; and Anhui Agricultural University was the most productive institution. Keyword analysis identified four interconnected themes: green tea catechins and lipid metabolism, oxidative stress and polyphenols, gut microbiota and thermogenesis, and obesity-related metabolic syndrome. Recent research increasingly emphasises multi-omics, microbiota interactions, and precision nutrition. These bibliometric findings indicate expanding scientific interest in the potential contribution of Camellia sinensis to weight management and obesity-related metabolic health, while underscoring the need for standardised clinical trials, improved EGCG bioavailability, and cautious translation into clinical and policy settings
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