Banana vs plantain: green fruit shortens diarrhea in small children

The strongest finding on this page is about green fruit and very young children. By a meta-analysis of 9 randomized trials in 3996 children aged 8 to 34 months, green banana foods added to standard care nearly doubled the rate at which diarrhea resolved (HR 1.96, 95% CI 1.62 to 2.37). Seven of the 9 trials were open label. The authors say the effect still has to be confirmed in adults, and we found no adult trial. The single trial that used plantain itself, a hospital trial on 80 children with persistent diarrhea, shortened it by 18 hours on average against a yogurt-based diet. In the pooled trials the green banana food was added to standard care, not given in its place. On the plate the two fruits differ mostly in starch. Per 100 g raw, ripe plantain carried 13.6 g of starch against 3.7 g in ripe banana in USDA samples, and banana starch swung widely between samples because ripeness decides almost everything.

How much is actually in it

• Per 100 g raw, ripe plantain carried 13.6 g starch against 3.7 g in ripe banana, plus more potassium (396 vs 326 mg) and vitamin C (20.1 vs 12.3 mg). — USDA FoodData Central Foundation Foods, Bananas ripe and slightly ripe raw vs Plantains ripe raw, per 3.5 oz (100 g) (n = 6-12 samples per nutrient) Evidence E source
  Starch 13.62 g (8.9-16.3) vs 3.66 g (1.55-5.4); potassium 395.6 mg (323-459) vs 326 mg (300-355); vitamin C 20.08 mg (15.6-27.1) vs 12.3 mg (9.2-15.1); water 66.06 g vs 75.3 g
• Ripening turns banana starch into sugar: overripe bananas held 0.41 g starch per 3.5 oz (100 g) against 3.66 g in ripe ones, while ripe plantain still had 12 g resistant starch. — USDA Foundation Foods, Bananas overripe raw vs ripe and slightly ripe raw, Plantains ripe raw, per 3.5 oz (100 g) (n = 6-12 samples) Evidence E source
  Banana starch 0.41 g (0-0.86) overripe vs 3.66 g ripe; plantain resistant starch 12.0 g (8-15)
• By the UK composition tables green plantain has 117 calories and 23.7 g starch per 3.5 oz (100 g) against 81 calories and 2.2 g starch in banana flesh, which is mostly sugar. — CoFID 2021 records 14-318 Bananas, flesh only and 13-323 Plantain, green flesh, raw, per 3.5 oz (100 g) (n = 2 reference records) Evidence E source
  Banana 81 calories, starch 2.2 g, total sugars 18.1 g, potassium 330 mg, vitamin C 9 mg; green plantain 117 calories, starch 23.7 g, sugars 5.7 g, potassium 500 mg, vitamin C 15 mg

What a real portion looks like

• In the US survey database one banana weighs 4.4 oz (126 g), while one raw plantain is 180 g and one cooked plantain 235 g. — USDA FNDDS household measures for Banana, raw (63107010), Plantain, raw (71905000), Plantain, cooked, no added fat (71900100) (n = 6, 2 and 5 measures) Evidence E source
  Banana 1 banana 126 g, 1 cup 150 g, 1 cup mashed 225 g; plantain raw 1 whole 180 g; plantain cooked 1 whole 235 g, 1 cup 200 g, 1 slice 25 g

What your body absorbs

• In a randomized trial of 57 infant boys with persistent diarrhea, a week of cooked green banana improved small-bowel permeability and halved stool weight. — 57 boys aged 5-12 months with persistent diarrhea, green banana n = 19, pectin n = 17, rice diet n = 21, one week (n = 57) Evidence B source
  Lower lactulose-mannitol ratio; stool weight reduced by 50%
• In 10 ileostomy patients, 30 g a day of raw green banana flour raised ileal loss of energy and iron compared with the cooked flour. — 10 ileostomy subjects on a controlled diet with 30 g/d raw or cooked green banana flour in random order (n = 10) Evidence B source
  Higher ileal excretion of energy, iron and chenodeoxycholic acid with raw flour, but not of total sterols

What cooking and storage change

• Boiling plantain cut its vitamin C from 15 to 9 mg per 3.5 oz (100 g) in the UK tables, while frying ripe plantain in oil raised energy to 267 calories. — CoFID 2021 records 13-323 raw green, 13-324 boiled and 13-569 ripe fried in rapeseed oil, per 3.5 oz (100 g) (n = 3 reference records) Evidence E source
  Vitamin C 15 mg raw, 9 mg boiled, 12 mg fried; energy 117, 112, 267 calories; potassium 500, 400, 610 mg
• Baking fresh non-citrus fruit keeps 80 percent of vitamin C and 60 percent of folate by the USDA table for Fruits and Fruit Juices, while potassium keeps 90 percent. — USDA Table of Nutrient Retention Factors Release 6, group Fruits and Fruit Juices, method FRUITS,FRESH(NOT CITRUS),BAKED, code 151 (n = 16 nutrients in the method row) Evidence E source
  Folate 60% retained, vitamin C 80%, thiamin 80%, potassium copper niacin 90%, calcium riboflavin vitamin B6 95%, iron magnesium phosphorus zinc 100%

What it does to your health

• In a crossover RCT of 16 healthy adults, an isocaloric banana portion left blood pressure and triglycerides unchanged over 3 hours, unlike durian. — 16 young healthy Chinese adults, 8 men and 8 women, isocaloric portions with at least 5 days wash-out (n = 16) Evidence B source
  No significant change in blood pressure or triglycerides after banana; glucose rise comparable to durian
• Observational data from 341,519 Europeans link a high pooled intake of apple or pear, banana, mushrooms and onion or garlic with lower Crohn's disease risk, though the confidence interval includes no effect. — 341,519 EPIC cohort participants followed a median 13.4 years (n = 341519) Evidence C source
  Fourth vs first quartile aHR 0.58, 95% CI 0.33 to 1.02, P trend 0.03

Safety, limits and interactions

• A case report links dried banana flakes given for diarrhea to a subtherapeutic INR in a man taking warfarin. — A man in his 30s on warfarin after cerebral venous thrombosis, with diarrhea (n = 1) Evidence D source
  INR fell below range for 3 days after banana flakes; interaction probability score 5 (probable)
• A case report describes anaphylaxis to banana in a two-year-old sensitized to the heat-stable thaumatin-like protein Mus a 4, still positive at age nine. — One child, anaphylaxis at age 2, followed to age 9 (n = 1) Evidence D source
  Banana-specific IgE 2.85 kUA/L; sensitization persisted 7 years; cross-reactivity with kiwi

What people believe that the data does not support

• The EU did not authorize the claim that banana is a major dietary source of antioxidants protecting cells from oxidative damage, and no US 21 CFR claim names banana or plantain. — EU Register on nutrition and health claims, substance Banana; 21 CFR 101 searched for banana and plantain Evidence E source
  Non-authorized

Who this works differently for

• By a meta-analysis of 9 RCTs in 3996 children, green banana foods added to standard care nearly doubled the rate of diarrhea resolution (HR 1.96). — Children aged 8 to 34 months with acute or persistent diarrhea, 9 randomized controlled trials (n = 3996) Evidence A source
  HR 1.96, 95% CI 1.62 to 2.37; persistent diarrhea HR 2.34 (1.78 to 3.08), acute HR 1.74 (1.45 to 2.09)
• In an open RCT of children with acute watery diarrhea, cooked green banana raised recovery within 72 hours from 47.2% to 62.4% (RR 1.3, NNT 7). — Children aged 9 months to 5 years with acute watery diarrhea and no dehydration Evidence B source
  Recovery within 72 h 62.4% vs 47.2%, RR 1.3 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.7), NNT 7
• In an RCT of 135 Bangladeshi children with persistent diarrhea, green banana mixed rice suji gave 58% recovery by day 5 against 31% on rice suji alone. — 135 children aged 6-35 months with persistent diarrhea, Dhaka Hospital of icddr,b (n = 135) Evidence B source
  Day-5 recovery 58% vs 31% (rice suji) vs 58% (75% rice suji); relapses 7% vs 24% against 75% rice suji
• In a randomized hospital trial of 80 children with persistent diarrhea, a cooked green plantain diet ended diarrhea 18 hours sooner than a yogurt-based diet. — 80 children aged 1 to 28 months with at least 14 days of persistent diarrhea, 40 per group, one week (n = 80) Evidence B source
  Diarrhea duration 18 hours shorter (p < 0.005), better weight gain (p < 0.001)

What is still unknown

• The meta-analysis of 9 RCTs covered only 3996 children aged 8 to 34 months, and its authors state the green banana effect still has to be confirmed in adults. — Evidence base of 9 RCTs, all in children aged 8 to 34 months (n = 3996) Evidence A source
  No adult trials in the pooled evidence

The bottom line

Ripening is the switch. Overripe bananas held 0.41 g of starch per 3.5 oz (100 g) against 3.66 g in ripe ones, while ripe plantain still carried 12 g of resistant starch. USDA has no green banana samples, so the green fruit used in the diarrhea trials is not described by these figures. British tables put green plantain at 117 calories and 23.7 g of starch per 3.5 oz (100 g) against 81 calories and 2.2 g in banana flesh, which is mostly sugar. One banana weighs 4.4 oz (126 g) in US survey data, one raw plantain 180 g and one cooked plantain 235 g. Boiled plantain had 9 mg of vitamin C per 3.5 oz (100 g) against 15 mg raw, and ripe plantain fried in rapeseed oil reached 267 calories. These are separate table records, and the fried plantain was ripe while the raw one was green. In a crossover trial of 16 healthy young adults, an isocaloric banana portion left blood pressure and triglycerides unchanged over 3 hours. Observational data from 341,519 Europeans tie a high combined intake of apple or pear, banana, mushrooms and onion or garlic to lower Crohn's disease risk (HR 0.58), with a confidence interval of 0.33 to 1.02 that includes no effect. The EU refused the claim that banana is a major dietary source of antioxidants. Two cautions come from single case reports. A man in his 30s on warfarin, given dried banana flakes for diarrhea, had an INR below range for 3 days, a link the authors rated as probable. A two year old had anaphylaxis to banana through Mus a 4, a protein that stays stable through digestion and heat, so cooking the fruit does not make it safe for a child with that sensitivity.

Sources

1. bnpl-daily-r6-12 · reference dataset
   Bananas, ripe and slightly ripe, raw: Potassium 326.0 mg (300.0-355.0, n 6), Starch 3.66 g (1.55-5.4, n 12), Vitamin C 12.3 mg (9.2-15.1, n 12), Water 75.3 g | Plantains, ripe, raw: Potassium 395.6 mg (323.0-459.0, n 6), Starch 13.62 g (8.9-16.3, n 6), Resistant starch 12.0 g (8.0-15.0, n 6), Vitamin C 20.08 mg (15.6-27.1, n 6), Water 66.06 g
   USDA FoodData Central, Foundation Foods, release 2026-04-30 · checked 2026-10-02
2. bnpl-daily-r6-13 · reference dataset
   Bananas, overripe, raw: Starch 0.41 g (0.0-0.86, n 6) | Bananas, ripe and slightly ripe, raw: Starch 3.66 g (1.55-5.4, n 12) | Plantains, ripe, raw: Resistant starch 12.0 g (8.0-15.0, n 6)
   USDA FoodData Central, Foundation Foods, release 2026-04-30 · checked 2026-10-02
3. bnpl-daily-r6-14 · reference dataset
   CoFID 14-318 Bananas, flesh only: Energy 81 kcal, Carbohydrate 20.3 g, Starch 2.2 g, Total sugars 18.1 g, Water 75.0 g, Potassium 330 mg, Vitamin C 9 mg | CoFID 13-323 Plantain, green flesh, raw: Energy 117 kcal, Carbohydrate 29.4 g, Starch 23.7 g, Total sugars 5.7 g, Water 67.5 g, Potassium 500 mg, Vitamin C 15 mg
   CoFID 2021, Public Health England, records 14-318 and 13-323 · checked 2026-10-02
4. bnpl-daily-r6-17 · reference dataset
   Banana, raw, FNDDS 63107010: 1 banana 126 g | 1 slice 6 g | 1 cup 150 g | 1 cup, mashed 225 g | 1 linear inch 15 g | Quantity not specified 126 g || Plantain, raw, FNDDS 71905000: 1 whole 180 g | Quantity not specified 180 g || Plantain, cooked, no added fat, FNDDS 71900100: 1 slice 25 g | 1 whole 235 g | 1 cup 200 g | 1 cup, mashed 200 g | Quantity not specified 100 g
   USDA FNDDS, Banana raw 63107010, Plantain raw 71905000, Plantain cooked 71900100 · checked 2026-10-02
5. bnpl-daily-r6-06 · RCT
   Treatment with banana significantly (P < 0.05) reduced lactulose recovery, increased mannitol recovery, and decreased the LM ratio, indicating improvement of permeability. Pectin produced similar results. Permeability changes were associated with a 50% reduction in stool weights which correlated strongly (green banana, r2 = 0.84, pectin, r2 = 0.86) with the LM ratio.
   Dig Dis Sci, 2004 · checked 2026-10-02
6. bnpl-daily-r6-07 · RCT
   In study A, the dry weight of the ileostomy effluents and the ileal excretion of energy, iron, and chenodeoxycholic acid, but not total sterols, were higher after the addition of RBF than of CBF to the diet.
   Am J Clin Nutr, 2002 · checked 2026-10-02
7. bnpl-daily-r6-15 · reference dataset
   CoFID 13-323 Plantain, green flesh, raw: Energy 117 kcal, Water 67.5 g, Potassium 500 mg, Vitamin C 15 mg | CoFID 13-324 Plantain, boiled in unsalted water, flesh only: Energy 112 kcal, Water 68.5 g, Potassium 400 mg, Vitamin C 9 mg | CoFID 13-569 Plantain, ripe, fried in rapeseed oil: Energy 267 kcal, Water 34.7 g, Potassium 610 mg, Vitamin C 12 mg
   CoFID 2021, Public Health England, records 13-323, 13-324 and 13-569 · checked 2026-10-02
8. bnpl-daily-r6-16 · nutrient retention factor dataset
   USDA-RETN-R6:151 | Fruits and Fruit Juices | FRUITS,FRESH(NOT CITRUS),BAKED | folate_total_ug 60% | vitamin_c_mg 80% | thiamin_mg 80% | potassium_mg 90% | copper_mg 90% | niacin_mg 90% | calcium_mg 95% | riboflavin_mg 95% | vitamin_b6_mg 95% | iron_mg 100% | magnesium_mg 100% | phosphorus_mg 100% | sodium_mg 100% | zinc_mg 100% | choline_mg 100% | vitamin_b12_ug 100%
   USDA Table of Nutrient Retention Factors, Release 6, 2007, Retn_Code 151 · checked 2026-10-02
9. bnpl-daily-r6-08 · RCT
   Additionally, durian significantly lowered BP and increased triglyceride (TG) levels during 3 h after consumption, whereas bananas had no significant effects on these measures.
   J Am Nutr Assoc, 2025 · checked 2026-10-02
10. bnpl-daily-r6-09 · Prospective cohort
    Pooled consumption of apple/pear, banana, mushrooms, and onion/garlic was associated with a lower risk of CD (fourth vs first quartile aHR 0.58; 95% CI: 0.33-1.02, P trend 0.03).
    Am J Gastroenterol, 2026 · checked 2026-10-02
11. bnpl-daily-r6-10 · Case report
    Concomitant use of warfarin and banana flakes supplements may result in a reduced rate and extent of diarrhea and may be associated with subtherapeutic INR and decreased warfarin efficacy.
    Nutr Clin Pract, 2016 · checked 2026-10-02
12. bnpl-daily-r6-11 · Case report
    Thaumatin-like proteins (TLPs) present high stability during digestion and heat treatment.
    Cureus, 2025 · checked 2026-10-02
13. bnpl-daily-r6-18 · EU claim register
    POL-HC-6676 Banana Banana is a major dietary source of antioxidants Antioxidants from dietary sources contribute to the protection against free radicals which cause cell damage Contributes to the protection of cells and tissues from oxidative damage Help strengthen our body's natural defences against oxidative stress Non-authorised
    EU Register on nutrition and health claims, claim POL-HC-6676, snapshot 2026-09-21 · checked 2026-10-02
14. bnpl-daily-r6-01 · Meta-analysis of RCTs
    GB-based food consumption significantly increased the hazard of resolution of diarrhea compared to standard treatment (HR 1.96, 95% CI [1.62; 2.37], p < 0.01; I2 = 52%). The subgroup analysis showed a higher hazard of resolution of diarrhea for children with persistent diarrhea (HR 2.34, 95% CI [1.78; 3.08] compared to acute diarrhea (HR 1.74, 95% CI [1.45; 2.09]).
    Eur J Pediatr, 2024 · checked 2026-10-02
15. bnpl-daily-r6-03 · RCT
    The proportion of children who recovered within 72 hours was significantly higher (62.4%) in the green banana group compared to the control group (47.2%) [RR 1.3 (95% CI 1.05-1.7), NNT=7].
    Indian Pediatr, 2020 · checked 2026-10-02
16. bnpl-daily-r6-04 · RCT
    By day 5, the recovery rate was 58%, 31% and 58% for children in the green banana mixed rice suji, rice suji and 75% rice suji groups, respectively. The green banana mixed rice suji group had fewer relapses (7%) than the 75% rice suji group (24%).
    Acta Paediatr, 2023 · checked 2026-10-02
17. bnpl-daily-r6-05 · RCT
    The average duration of diarrhea in the plantain-based diet group was 18 hours shorter (p < 0.005) and it also had lower cost (p < 0.005).
    J Am Coll Nutr, 2009 · checked 2026-10-02
18. bnpl-daily-r6-02 · Meta-analysis of RCTs
    More clinical trials are necessary to assess if a synergistic effect between GB and other foods exists and proves to be better than GB alone. These findings need to be confirmed in diverse socioeconomic contexts, within the adult population, and under varying health conditionsTrial registration: CRD42024499992.
    Eur J Pediatr, 2024 · checked 2026-10-02