NUTRIGENOMICS, FUNCTIONAL FOODS, AND FOOD ENGINEERING: BIBLIOMETRIC TRENDS TOWARD HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE EATING

Abstract

The interrelationship between nutrition, health, and sustainability has become a central focus of contemporary scientific research. The transition toward healthier and more sustainable food systems demands integrative approaches that combine nutritional knowledge, technological innovation, and molecular understanding. In this context, nutrigenomics, functional foods, and food engineering emerge as strategic pillars to address pressing challenges such as obesity, non-communicable chronic diseases, and metabolic decline, while simultaneously promoting the conservation of natural resources and equitable access to adequate nutrition. This study seeks to answer the question: Can a term co-occurrence network analysis identify emerging trends in nutrigenomics, functional foods, food engineering, and healthy and sustainable nutrition? To this end, a bibliometric analysis was conducted using a network of 1,342 conceptual terms defined by 550 authors. The results revealed four thematic clusters: Cluster 1 Nutritional bioactives, molecular regulation, and emerging technologies for health and food performance; Cluster 2 Clinical intervention and functional compounds for the prevention of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases; Cluster 3 Personalized nutrition, gut microbiota, and dietary patterns in the prevention of chronic diseases; and Cluster 4 Personalized nutrition, pharmacotherapy, and precision medicine in the management of obesity and metabolic disorders. The findings provide a foundation for the development of new lines of research, which should be further explored and formalized through the application of robust methodologies such as structural equation modeling and factorial analysis.