Objective To explore the research hotspots and development trends of microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA) related literature both domestically and internationally.

Methods Relevant MGBA literature from 2000 to 2023 was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection, and bibliometric and visualization analyses were conducted using CiteSpace 6.3. R1 software.

Results A total of 857 MGBA-related articles were analyzed. China and the United States are representative countries in this field, with CRYAN J F and University College Cork being the most influential author and the most productive institution, respectively. In recent years, high-frequency research had focused on neurodegenerative diseases, intra- and extra-axis interactions with the body, and interventions involving short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), tryptophan metabolism and serotonin.

Conclusion The research in MGBA continues to be hotspot, and the research focus gradually transit from the verification of the relationship with diseases to the intra-axis interaction mechanism. The research hotspot of nervous system related diseases has been enduring in this field, and the therapeutic measures targeting the metabolites of intestinal flora and metabolomics are expected to become the future research trend in this field.