Beyond the culinary debates, there's a persistent claim amongst Malaysians that eating petai can help prevent diabetes or lower blood sugar levels. But can this notoriously smelly bean really help diabetics control their blood sugar? The review found that seven in vivo studies (studies using live animals) and three in vitro studies (laboratory studies) all proved the effectiveness of stink beans as an anti-diabetic agent. The hypoglycemic effect, meaning the ability to lower blood sugar, is attributed to the presence of three specific compounds: β-sitosterol, stigmasterol and stigmast-4-en-3-one. The plant sterols in petai appear to have anti-hyperglycemic effects, meaning they prevent blood sugar from rising too high.

Source: The Star February 27, 2026 16:33 UTC