Abstract Body: Introduction: Different beverages show varying associations with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Understanding the impact of overall beverage quality on T2D risk in Mexico is important, given the high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). We investigated the relationship between the Beverage Quality Index (BQI) and T2D incidence in Mexican women.

Methods: The analysis included 77 484 participants from the Mexican Teachers’ Cohort who had no T2D at baseline (2006-2008). Diet was assessed using a 140-item food-frequency questionnaire. The BQI (previously developed in the Netherlands) was calculated from 7 components: coffee, milk, juices, SSBs, alcohol, sugar added to beverages, and energy from beverages, with higher scores (range: 0-70) for healthier beverage intake. T2D incidence was assessed through 2018 via self-reports or registry linkage. Hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for BQI and incident T2D were obtained from Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for demographic, lifestyle and dietary factors.

Results: Women had a mean (SD) age of 45.9 (7.2) years, and BMI of 27.2 (4.7) kg/m², with 21% being obese. The mean BQI was 37.3 (8.6), ranging from 9.8 to 69.3. During a median follow-up of 7.6 years, 4521 women developed T2D. The BQI was not associated with T2D incidence (Table 1) when comparing extreme categories in the multivariable model (HR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.71, 1.06 for BQI ≥55 vs. <25). Restricted cubic spline analysis showed no significant association between continuous BQI and T2D incidence (Figure 1).

Conclusions: The BQI showed no consistent association with T2D incidence in Mexican women. Further research on beverage quality indices in Mexican populations is warranted.