Topics and Trends in Most Cited Diet and metabolism studies Papers

Ranked by citations 18 months after publication

Class of 2026 (Papers Published in 2024)

What topics and trends defined most-cited Diet and metabolism studies research in the Class of 2026?

Research in diet and metabolism is centered on gut microbiota and host-microbiome interactions, with microbial metabolism, intestinal lipid absorption, and tryptophan pathways emerging as rapid risers. Meanwhile, broad descriptive topics such as short-chain fatty acids and caloric restriction declined as attention shifted toward precise mechanistic pathways and GLP-1 therapies.

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Updated July 22, 2026

At a glance

Field
Diet and metabolism studies
Cohort label
Class of 2026 (2024 publications)
Papers analyzed
15,608
Papers ranked
20
Top topics in ranked papers
Gut microbiota, Host-microbiome interactions, Microbial metabolism, Ketogenic diet, GLP-1 receptor agonists
Publication window
Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
Eligibility
Research articles; reviews excluded
Citation window
18 months post-publication
18m citation range
80–221
Data source
OpenAlex · Retrieved July 2026
License
CC BY 4.0

Rankings

20 papers ranked by 18-month citation count

#2 of 15,608
17518m citations

A core microbiome signature as an indicator of health

Guojun Wu et al.Cell202410.1016/j.cell.2024.09.019

Guojun WuRutgers, The State University of New Jersey, United States

Gut microbiotacore microbiomemetagenomic datasetsHigh-fiber dietType 2 diabetesco-abundance networksstably correlated genome pairstwo competing guilds modelFiber fermentationbutyrate productionvirulence genesantibiotic resistancerandom forest modelsimmunotherapy outcome predictionguild-based approachsystems biologycase-control studies
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#3 of 15,608
16618m citations

Gut symbionts alleviate MASH through a secondary bile acid biosynthetic pathway

Qixing Nie et al.Cell202410.1016/j.cell.2024.03.034

Yanxing Jia, Ming‐Hua Zheng, Yanli Pang, Jie Qiao, Changtao JiangPeking University, China

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitisMASHGut microbiotasecondary bile acid3-Succinylated cholic acidclick-chemistry-based enrichmentNonalcoholic fatty liver diseaseMASLDBacteroides uniformisβ-lactamaseactivity-based protein purificationAkkermansia muciniphilalumen-restricted metabolitegut-liver axismicrobial-derived bile acids
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#4 of 15,608
14818m citations

Metformin decelerates aging clock in male monkeys

Yuanhan Yang et al.Cell202410.1016/j.cell.2024.08.021

Jing Qu, Weiqi Zhang, Guang‐Hui LiuInstitute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

MetforminEpigenetic clockmale monkeysaging decelerationprimate aging modelanti-aging interventionage-related biomarkerslongevity pharmacologynon-human primate study
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#5 of 15,608
13518m citations

Gut microbiome and metabolome profiling in Framingham heart study reveals cholesterol-metabolizing bacteria

Chenhao Li et al.Cell202410.1016/j.cell.2024.03.014

Chenhao LiBroad Institute of MIT and Harvard, United States

Gut microbiotaMetabolomicsFramingham Heart Studycholesterol-metabolizing bacteriacholesterol metabolismMicrobial metabolismSerum metabolomicsmicrobial enzymesbile acidscoprostanolcardiovascular diseaseMetagenomicsHost-microbiome interactions
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#6 of 15,608
13418m citations

Gut microbiota regulates stress responsivity via the circadian system

Gabriel S S Tofani et al.Cell Metabolism202410.1016/j.cmet.2024.10.003

John F. CryanUniversity College Cork, Ireland

Gut microbiotastress responsivitycircadian systemHypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axismicrobial depletionglucocorticoid rhythmicitycorticosteronehippocampusamygdalacircadian pacemakersleep/wake transitiontime-of-day-specific impairmentsmicrobiota transplantationdiurnal oscillationsLactobacillus reuteribrain transcriptomebrain metabolomestress-sensitive behaviors
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#7 of 15,608
12618m citations

Dietary fibre directs microbial tryptophan metabolism via metabolic interactions in the gut microbiota

Anurag K Sinha, Martin F Laursen et al.Nature Microbiology202410.1038/s41564-024-01737-3

Anurag Kumar Sinha, Tine Rask LichtTechnical University of Denmark, Denmark

tryptophan metabolismGut microbiotaDietary fiberindoleindolelactic acidindole-3-propionic acidEscherichia coliClostridium sporogenesBacteroides thetaiotaomicronthree-species defined communitycross-feedingmonosaccharidescatabolite repressionChronic kidney diseaseFiber fermentationfaecal microbiota transplantationgnotobiotic micesubstrate-dependent regulationmetabolic interactions
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#8 of 15,608
11718m citations

Resistant starch intake facilitates weight loss in humans by reshaping the gut microbiota

Huating Li, Lei Zhang, Jun Li, Qian Wu et al.Nature Metabolism202410.1038/s42255-024-00988-y

Huating Li, Xinyu Liu, Gianni Panagiotou, Aimin Xu, Weiping JiaShanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China

resistant starchweight lossGut microbiotaOverweight and obesityinsulin resistanceBifidobacterium adolescentisbile acid profileintestinal barrierIntestinal lipid absorptiondietary fiber supplementationrandomized placebo-controlled crossover trialGut microbiota compositionDiet-induced obesityinflammationMetabolic disorders
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#9 of 15,608
11618m citations

Muscle matters: the effects of medically induced weight loss on skeletal muscle

Carla M Prado et al.The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology202410.1016/s2213-8587(24)00272-9

Steven B. HeymsfieldUniversity of Alberta, Canada

medically induced weight lossskeletal muscleMuscle mass preservationpharmacological weight loss interventionsLean body masssarcopenia riskmuscle protein synthesisbody composition changesGLP-1 receptor agonistsmuscle metabolic functionresistance trainingprotein supplementationmuscle strengthweight loss medicationsmuscle catabolism
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#11 of 15,608
10718m citations

Gut physiology and environment explain variations in human gut microbiome composition and metabolism

Nicola Procházková et al.Nature Microbiology202410.1038/s41564-024-01856-x

Henrik M. RoagerUniversity of Copenhagen, Denmark

gut microbiome compositiongut physiologyintestinal transit timesegmental transit timegut pHfaecal pHwireless motility capsulestool moistureMulti-omicsmicrobial carbohydrate fermentationproteolytic metabolitesbreath methaneintra-individual variationinter-individual variationgut environmental factorsMicrobial metabolismwhole-gut transit timeday-to-day fluctuationscoffee-derived metaboliteshost-derived metabolites
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#12 of 15,608
10318m citations

The Development and Evaluation of a Literature-Based Dietary Index for Gut Microbiota

Bezawit E Kase et al.Nutrients202410.3390/nu16071045

Susan E. SteckUniversity of South Carolina, United States

dietary index for gut microbiotaDI-GMMicrobiome diversityurinary enterodiolurinary enterolactoneNHANESfermented dairychickpeassoybeanwhole grainsDietary fibercranberriesavocadosbroccolired meatprocessed meatrefined grainshigh-fat dietdietary recallliterature-based dietary scoring
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#13 of 15,608
10218m citations

The impact of weight loss on fat-free mass, muscle, bone and hematopoiesis health: Implications for emerging pharmacotherapies aiming at fat reduction and lean mass preservation

Konstantinos Stefanakis et al.Metabolism202410.1016/j.metabol.2024.156057

Konstantinos StefanakisBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, United States

weight lossLean body massMuscle mass preservationbone healthhematopoiesispharmacotherapiesWeight lossbody compositionskeletal musclebone mineral densitysarcopeniacachexiaGLP-1 receptor agonistsdual-energy X-ray absorptiometryprotein turnovermyokinesosteoblast activitybone marrow adiposityanabolic resistance
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#15 of 15,608
9418m citations

Targeting Lactobacillus johnsonii to reverse chronic kidney disease

Hua Miao, Fei Liu et al.Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy202410.1038/s41392-024-01913-1

Fei Liu, Ying‐Yong Zhao, Gang CaoZhejiang Chinese Medical University, China

Lactobacillus johnsoniiChronic kidney diseaseGut dysbiosismicrobiomicstaxonomic chain Bacilli-Lactobacillales-Lactobacillaceae-Lactobacillusadenine-induced CKDindole-3-aldehydearyl hydrocarbon receptorunilateral ureteral obstruction5/6 nephrectomyHK-2 cells1-hydroxypyreneAHR deficiency micetryptophan metabolismserum creatininekidney lesionrenoprotective effectCKD progression
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#16 of 15,608
8418m citations

Lithocholic acid phenocopies anti-ageing effects of calorie restriction

Qi Qu, Yan Chen, Yu Wang et al.Nature202410.1038/s41586-024-08329-5

Cixiong Zhang, Chen-Song Zhang, Sheng‐Cai LinXiamen University, China

lithocholic acidLCACaloric restrictionCRMetabolomicsAMPKmuscle regenerationgrip strengthrunning capacityCaenorhabditis elegansDrosophila melanogasterlifespan extensionhealthspan extensionAMPK knockoutbile acid signalingCR-mediated metabolitesanti-aging intervention
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#18 of 15,608
8118m citations

Dietaryindex: a user-friendly and versatile R package for standardizing dietary pattern analysis in epidemiological and clinical studies

Jiada J Zhan et al.American Journal of Clinical Nutrition202410.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.08.021

Jiada Zhan, Rebecca A. HodgeEmory University, United States

Dietary pattern analysisR packageepidemiological studiesclinical studiesstandardizing dietary assessmentnutritional epidemiologydietary data processingfood frequency questionnairereproducible dietary researchdiet-disease associations
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#19 of 15,608
8018m citations

5-year follow-up of the randomised Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (DiRECT) of continued support for weight loss maintenance in the UK: an extension study

Michael Ej Lean et al.The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology202410.1016/s2213-8587(23)00385-6

Michael EJ LeanUniversity of Glasgow, United Kingdom

DiRECT trialtype 2 diabetes remissionWeight loss maintenancetotal diet replacementformula diet 825-853 kcal/dayantidiabetic drug withdrawalantihypertensive drug withdrawalHbA1c10 kg weight loss thresholdlow-intensity dietary supportstepped food reintroductionprimary care interventionglucose-lowering medicationBMI greater than 27 kg/m2diabetes duration less than 6 yearsweight management intervention5-year follow-up outcomesserious adverse events
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Dominant research themes and year-over-year shifts in Diet and metabolism studies

What Topics Define the Class of 2026?

Gut microbiota dominates the research landscape in diet and metabolism, appearing in 34% of highly cited 2024 papers (17 out of 50 top publications). This strong representation underscores the central role of the intestinal microbiome in regulating metabolic homeostasis, energy balance, and systemic health. Interconnected metabolic sub-themes feature prominently across the cohort, including host-microbiome interactions (12%), microbial metabolism (10%), microbial metabolites (10%), and the gut-brain axis (8%). Dietary interventions and pharmacological strategies focus heavily on managing metabolic disorders such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD/MASLD, 10%), type 2 diabetes, and obesity. Notably, ketogenic diets (10%), high-fat diet models (8%), and GLP-1 receptor agonists (8%) represent primary experimental and therapeutic modalities in the top literature. Emerging mechanistic areas include intestinal lipid absorption (8%), tryptophan metabolism (8%), and fiber fermentation (6%), reflecting a clear research pivot toward identifying specific biochemical pathways and metabolite mediators that connect dietary inputs to host metabolic responses.

Leading research themes
Leading research themes

How Did Topics Shift from the Class of 2025 to the Class of 2026?

Comparing the Class of 2025 (2023 publications) to the Class of 2026 (2024 publications) reveals a clear transition from general metabolite profiling toward specific metabolic pathways and gut-targeted mechanisms. The fastest-growing concepts include microbial metabolism (+8 percentage points, expanding 5-fold from 2% to 10%), intestinal lipid absorption (+8 p.p., reaching 8%), and tryptophan metabolism (+8 p.p., reaching 8%). Fiber fermentation also gained momentum (+6 p.p.), alongside ketogenic diet studies (+6 p.p., rising to 10%), highlighting increased interest in targeted nutritional strategies. Conversely, broad descriptive concepts saw marked declines. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) experienced the largest drop (-18 p.p.), falling from 22% (11 papers) in 2023 to 4% (2 papers) in 2024. General mentions of type 2 diabetes (-8 p.p.), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (-4 p.p.), and caloric restriction (-4 p.p.) also contracted as researchers focused on specific therapeutic agents like GLP-1 receptor agonists and precise molecular mechanisms. Overall, the field is evolving from broad observational microbiome cataloging toward mechanistic studies of diet-host-microbiome cross-talk.

How topics shifted year over year
How topics shifted year over year
Methodology

PRI identifies high-impact research using a transparent, topic-agnostic framework applied consistently across scientific domains. Bibliographic records are drawn from OpenAlex, including publication dates, citation relationships, and document types.

This ranking covers the Class of 2026 cohort: journal articles published in 2024. Reviews and other non-article document types are excluded to ensure comparability.

Research impact is quantified with an 18-month post-publication citation window—the number of citing works published within 18 months of each paper's publication date. This metric captures early impact while controlling for publication age.

An LLM-based relevance classifier then reviews each candidate's title and abstract to confirm substantive alignment with the target domain. Only papers classified as relevant appear in the final ranking.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459

Full methodologyGitHubbioRxiv preprint

Cite this ranking

Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited Diet and metabolism studies Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/diet-and-metabolism-studies/2026. Accessed 2026-07-22.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459

Source data

The full ranking corpus and analysis files are openly available on an external repository. Please cite the dataset below when reusing this data.

View source dataset →

Pepkio Research Index (2026). Diet and metabolism studies [Data set]. Figshare.