Mapping the World of Nutrition: Citation Analysis helps digest the Menu of Current Research

The basic task of nutritional science is $‘to formulate a diet over the lifetime of an individual that will optimize health, well-being, and longevity. Thks calls for providing the necessary chemical components in the right proportion and avoiding or minimizing toxic substances, ” according to Harold J. Morowitz, professor of molecular biophysics and biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. I From this broad definition, it is clear that the science of nutrition draws on a variety of research areas, including biochemisby, physiology, and psychology. Jn past essays, we have discussed topics related to nutrition, such as fcod additives,z fasting, s and anorexia.b To organize and trace the literature of the diverse research areas pertaining to nutrition, as well as to pinpoint’ ‘hot” nutritional research, we use the research-front fdes we have created from the Science Citation Indexa (SCP ] and the Social Sciences Citation Indexm (SSCP ).