Objective Based on bibliometrics, this study aims to explore the current status and emerging hotspots of research on the association between lipid metabolism and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), so as to provide references for future research directions in this field.

Methods Pubished Publications on the association between lipid metabolism and NAFLD published from 2012 to 2025 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database. Visualization tools, including bibliometric online analysis platforms, Microsoft Office Excel, CiteSpace, and VOSviewer were employed to analyze research hotspots and frontiers from the perspectives of publication trends, countries/regions, institutions, authors, high-frequency keywords, and burst terms.

Results A total of 6 605 publications were ultimately included. The global publication volume on the association between lipid metabolism and NAFLD exhibited an overall S-shaped growth trend, with China and the United States collectively accounting for 69.28% of the total output. Both national and author collaborations were characterized by high concentration but insufficient breadth of coverage, while inter-institutional collaboration remained relatively fragmented. In recent years, keywords have focused on insulin resistance, obesity, and oxidative stress. Gut microbiota and autophagy represent the latest research hotspots in this field, and the application of molecular docking, network pharmacology, and other methods constitutes a new direction for future research.

Conclusion The research on the association between lipid metabolism and NAFLD is currently undergoing a transitional period. Collaboration among countries, authors, and institutions remains fragmented, underscoring the need to strengthen international cooperation and pay greater attention to emerging hotspots in the future.

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