Mapping the Relationship Between Selenium and Bone: A Bibliometric Analysis Covering 1980-2023

Background: Selenium, an indispensable trace element in the human body, has been the subject of growing research that highlights its significant association with bone health. This project aims to employ the Bibliometrics method to comprehensively understand the research status of selenium and bone between 1980 and 2023. By utilizing visualizations to identify research hotspots and trends, we strive to shed light on the current state of knowledge in this field. Methods: Relevant articles on the topic of selenium and bone were retrieved from the Network Science Core Collection (WoSCC). Statistical and visual analysis was conducted using CiteSpace and VOSviewer. This analysis encompassed various aspects, including annual publication output, active countries, prolific institutions, authors, and keyword analysis. Results: A total of 864 relevant articles were retrieved for analysis, comprising 746 articles and 118 reviews. The number of publications in the field of selenium and bone has demonstrated a consistent upward trend over time. Notably, China emerged as the leading contributor in terms of publication output, with 195 articles, followed closely by the United States with 177 articles, and Germany with 50 articles. Among the institutions, Huazhong University of Science and Technology stood out as a core institution, while K. Sandeep Prabhu emerged as a prominent core author. The analysis of keyword frequency revealed the most frequently occurring terms in the publications. Selenium, with a count of 415, topped the list, followed by Bone (101), oxidative stress (91), zinc (87), osteoporosis (70), metabolism (66), copper (63), toxicity (62), supplementation (57), and nanoparticles (55). Notably, the emergence of Selenium nanoparticles and Scaffolds indicates novel research trends within the field. Conclusions: The research demonstrates an increasing number of publications focusing on the association between selenium and bone health in recent years, with China leading in terms of article output. Furthermore, prominent keywords such as selenium, bone, and oxidative stress indicate recurring themes in the literature, while emerging trends like selenium nanoparticles and scaffolds have gained significant attention.