Can coca leaves contribute to improving the nutritional status of the Andean population?

Background: Coca leaves (Erythroxylum coca) have been promoted as a food that could address the dietary deficiencies of the Andean population, but this is based on nutrient analyses of a small sample of leaves.

Objective: We assessed the nutritional potential of eight samples of coca leaves grown in different regions of Peru.

Methods: We used AOAC techniques to measure nutrients, nutrient inhibitors (phytate, polyphenols, oxalic acid, and fiber), and alkaloid concentrations, all expressed per 100 g dry weight (DW) of the ground leaves.