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In this Parenting SE question there seem to be two opposite claims made:

  • A +7 answer claims that banana ripeness has no effect on constipation (I'm leaving aside the second, obvious claim that drinking enough liquids does). But it has zero refrences to back it up.

  • A zero score answer claims the opposite, but its reference is eHow.

Is there a proper research that addresses this (ceterus parabus, e.g. you drink a "normal" amount of water in either case)?

If it matters, we can restrict the answer to children, toddlers or infants, as that was the scope of the original question; though I would prefer an answer that isn't age-restricted.

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2 Answers 2

up vote 2 down vote accepted

The ripeness of the banana can change its digestibility.

This paper is useful for addressing this claim:

From the paper:

When potatoes are used as a food, the starch granules must be gelatinized before they become susceptible to enzymic hydrolysis (2). This resistance to digestion does not normally cause any practical problems inasmuch as potatoes are not eaten raw and the starch granules are readily gelatinized by cooking. However, the a-amylase resistance of some raw starches may have importance for foods that are eaten raw-such as bananas. Experimental studies both in vitro and in animals suggest that banana-starch granules are largely indigestible (3,4).

However, there is a study showing that green bananas were useful for diarrhea:

  • Green banana and pectin improve small intestinal permeability and reduce fluid loss in Bangladeshi children with persistent diarrhea. Rabbani GH, Teka T, Saha SK, Zaman B, Majid N, Khatun M, Wahed MA, Fuchs GJ.

To evaluate the effects of green banana and pectin (nondigestible, dietary sources of colonic shortchain fatty acids [SCFA]) on intestinal permeability, 57 boys (5-12 months) with persistent diarrhea (> or = 14 days) were given a week's treatment with a rice-based diet containing either cooked green banana (n = 19), pectin (n = 17), or rice diet alone (n = 21). Intestinal permeability was assessed before and after treatment by giving a lactulose-mannitol (LM) drink and measuring urinary recovery after 5 hr. 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. Green banana-derived and SCFA-mediated stimulation of colonic as well as small bowel absorption is responsible for their antidiarrheal effects. The antidiarrheal effects of green banana and pectin are mediated by improvement of small intestinal permeability in addition to their known colonotrophic effects.

Here is another one:

  • Green banana-supplemented diet in the home management of acute and prolonged diarrhoea in children: a community-based trial in rural Bangladesh. Rabbani GH, Larson CP, Islam R, Saha UR, Kabir A.

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of green banana in the home management of acute (<7 days) or prolonged (≥ 7 days) diarrhoea at the community level. METHODS: A cluster randomized field trial was conducted among 2968 Bangladeshi rural children 6-36 months old. Wards (villages) were randomly assigned to either a standard care group or a standard care plus green banana group where mothers were instructed to add cooked green banana to the diets of diarrhoeal children. Through a village-based surveillance system, diarrhoeal morbidity data (severity, duration, compliance) were collected for 14 days. Treatment effects were determined by analysing cumulative probability of cure by testing Cox proportional hazards models and relative risk (RR). RESULTS: The cumulative probability of cure was significantly (P < 0.001) different in children receiving GB for both acute [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.63 (95% CI: 0.56-0.67)] and prolonged diarrhoea [HR = 0.38 (95% CI: 0.26-0.59)]. The recovery rates of children with acute diarrhoea receiving GB (vs. control) were significantly more by day 3: 79.9%vs. 53.3% [(RR) = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.41-0.55], (P < 0.001) and day 7: 96.6%vs. 89.1% (RR = 0.32; 0.22-0.46), (P < 0.001). Children with prolonged diarrhoea receiving green banana had significantly higher recovery rates by day 10: 79.8%vs. 51.9% (RR = 0.42; 0.23-0.73), (P < 0.001) and day 14: 93.6%vs. 67.2% (RR = 0.22; 0.08-0.54), (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: A green banana-supplemented diet hastened recovery of acute and prolonged childhood diarrhoea managed at home in rural Bangladesh.*

Those with fructose malabsorption issues are advised to avoid green bananas and instead eat ripe bananas in this paper:

  • Shepherd S, Gibson, P., Fructose malabsorption and symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Guidelines for effective dietary management, J Am Diet Assoc. 2006;106:1631-1639

  • Kyaw MH, Mayberry JF., Fructose malabsorption is thought to be a variation of IBS: J Clin Gastroenterol. 2011 Jan;45(1):16-21. Fructose malabsorption: true condition or a variance from normality.


The prevalence of fructose malabsorption may be aggravated by current american diet, according to this paper:


Thus, the bananas' ripeness causing constipation problems is totally dependent on the state of your gut flora and whether you experience gastrointestinal distress with fructose.*

Constipation symptoms are listed as:

Pass fewer than three stools a week Experience hard stools Strain excessively during bowel movements Experience a sense of rectal blockage Have a feeling of incomplete evacuation after having a bowel movement Need to use manual maneuvers to have a bowel movement, such as finger evacuation or manipulation of your lower abdomen Some people may have lower abdominal pain with constipation that is sometimes followed by diarrhea. Other people have pain and mild constipation but no diarrhea. Symptoms that are sometimes present include intestinal gas and passage of mucus in stools.

and IBS Symptoms are listed as:

Bowel movements may occur either more often (diarrhea) or less often (constipation) than usual, such as having more than 3 bowel movements a day or less than 3 a week. Bowel movements may differ in size or consistency (may be hard and small, pencil-thin, or loose and watery). The way stools pass changes. You may strain, feel an urgent need to have a bowel movement, or feel that you haven't completely passed a stool. You may have bloating or a feeling of gas in the intestines.

IBS and constipation have many overlapping symptoms.

Thus, it is possible that green bananas could cause constipation, if one has IBS issues/ fructose malabsorption, and apparently the current American-type diet could aggravate this type of issue.

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TL:DR - No.

The answer to this question is basically going to be "Does more sugar contribute to constipation?"

A brief explanation from Sciencebuddies.org:


So, does it? Well, I couldn't find a solid source evaluating sugar levels alone. The American Journal of Nursing has published recommendations that encourage giving constipated patients a lot of fruit juice (4 glasses per day of just about any juice). However, since fruit juice will introduce both sugar and water into your system, it's not conclusive.

Maybe a better question to ask after reading that is: "Does sugar have an effect on hydration levels?" since hydration levels definitely have an effect on constipation, with some research suggesting even mild dehydration could exacerbate things. During periods of hypohydration, the body cannot properly lubricate itself, and it can easily progress to constiptaion.

Does increasing your sugar intake affect your hydration levels? Only if you eat enough to result in high blood-sugar levels. Diabetics are more at risk, naturally.

Do bananas gain a significant amount of sugar as they ripen? One study suggests... barely:

Bananas contained 1% starch when fully ripe and none when overripe, whereas plantains contained about 9% starch when fully ripe and 3% when overripe (composition expressed as percentage fresh weight). Total sugar content was 23% in fully ripe and overripe bananas...

A similarly unspectacular result was also found in another study (direct-download PDF) where, after a day or two of reaching their ethylene peak, the production of sugars reached a plateu.

So, the differences between ripe and overripe bananas is going to be minimal. Both will contain about 17g-18g of sugars when the banana is 8"-9" long, and have roughly similar Calorie counts.

The sugar content differences are further nullified when you remember that humans can digest starches, so any conversion of starches into monomers by the fruit is only making the fruit quicker to digest (and explains why overripe bananas have a higher Glycemic index). It's removing a step the body takes anyways.

Ultimately, no - the ripeness of a banana has no affect on constipation under normal hydration levels. If you're eating enough sugar to affect your hydration levels, switching to a less-ripe banana won't help you since the body will net similar amounts of total sugar once it converts the starch into glucose.

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Why did you focus on sugar and constipation? I would expect there to be a stronger relationship between fiber and constipation. –  Tacroy Dec 5 '12 at 23:11
@Tacroy - The Fiber content of a banana doesn't change as it ripens. Pectin breaks down to make it softer, but without cellulase present the fiber doesn't break down. –  MCM Dec 5 '12 at 23:38

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