Tendência global da pesquisa com colostro bovino: uma abordagem cienciométrica

Abstract

Bovine colostrum (BC) is the first secretion from the mammary gland after birth, distinguished from mature milk by its high concentration of immunoglobulins, growth factors, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and other bioactive compounds important for human health. In recent years, there has been growing interest in bovine colostrum (BC) as a functional and therapeutic ingredient, motivating the need to systematically evaluate the evolution of research in this field. This study aimed to conduct a scientometric analysis of the scientific production on BC, identifying the temporal evolution of publications, the main countries and institutions, the most representative areas of knowledge, and the emerging keywords. The methodology consisted of a structured search in the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection database, covering the period from 1987 to 2025 and including all indexed citations. Specific combinations of keywords related to BC and its applications were used, excluding conference abstracts, and other non-relevant publications. Data analysis was conducted in two stages: (i) scientometric analysis, using the VOSviewer software to generate keyword co-occurrence networks, temporal maps, collaboration networks, and citation density; and (ii) descriptive analysis, performed in Microsoft Excel 2021, to characterize the evolution of publications, authors, institutions, countries, and research areas. A total of 299 records were identified during the analyzed period. Publications exhibited gradual growth from 2001, with a significant increase after 2013, reaching a peak in 2021. This was followed by a decline in 2022, but a recovery was observed in 2023. The United States led scientific production, with nearly 70 publications, followed by China, Italy, Canada, and India. Brazil showed modest but growing participation. Regarding areas of knowledge, Food Science & Technology accounted for 39.8% of publications, followed by Agriculture (20.4%) and Nutrition and Dietetics (19.4%), indicating the interdisciplinary nature of the research. However, biomedical areas such as Immunology, Pharmacology, Pediatrics, and Virology are still underrepresented. Keyword analysis highlighted terms such as "colostrum," "immunoglobulins," "lactoferrin," and "growth factors," reflecting the emphasis on characterizing bioactive compounds and their immunological functions. More recent terms, such as "COVID 19," "proteomics," and "health food supplement," associated with the post-2018 period, reflect new research trends, particularly in immunomodulation and the use of BC in functional foods and dietary supplements. These results demonstrate that research on BC has advanced consistently but remains incipient in technological exploration and the development of new products.