(1.4 mg: 18.0 mg). Ingestion of 100 g of the Bolivian 
coca leaves tested would more than satisfy the Recom- 
mended Dietary Allowance for reference man and 
woman of calcium, iron, phosphorus, vitamin A, vita- 
min B, and vitamin EK. However, the leaves also contain 
alkaloids and may harbor pesticide residues. 
Unable to establish the nutritional value of coca leaves 
(Mrythrovylum Coca Lam. )afterconsulting many sources, 
we obtained a one kilogram sun-dried sample from San 
Francisco, Province of Chapare, Bolivia, in June, 1974. 
Using methods listed in References and Notes, we ob- 
tained the following nutritional analysis (1): calories, 805 
per 100 @: moisture, 6.5 g; protein, 18.9 @: carbohy- 
drate, 46.2 @; fat, 5.0 g: vitamin A, 11,000 LU (as 
beta-carotene); vitamin C, 1.4 mg; vitamin B, (thia- 
mine), 0.85 mg; vitamin B, (riboflavin), 1.9 m@: niacin, 
1.29 meg: calcium, 1,540 mg: iron, 45.8 me: vitamin 
Ki, 43.5 [LU (as d-alpha tocopherol): vitamin B,, 0.508 
mg: folicacid, 0.1830 mg: vitamin B,,, 1.05 meg: iodine, 
5.0 meg: phosphorus, 911 mg: magnesium, 213 mg; 
zinc, 2.70 mg; copper, 1.21 mg: biotin, 0.0868 mg; 
pantothenic acid, 0.684 mg: and sodium, 40.6 mg. The 
analysis of other elements by emission spectroscopy 
yielded the following amounts: potassium, 2.02 @ per 
r: stronti- 
S 
_ 
100 @; aluminum, 89.5 mg; barium, 4.67 m 
um, 9.71 mg; boron, 5.85 mg: zine, 2.70 mg; manga- 
nese, 6.65 mg: and chromium, 0.359 mg. 
Surprised by the high values, especially in calcium and 
iron, we tabulated nutritional averages for other plant 
products ingested by Latin Americans (‘Table 1). Com- 
pared with an average from ten nuts and oilseeds (2) 
(Sesamum indicum, Terminalia Catappa, Prunus A myg- 
dalus, Corylus spp., Arachis hypogaca, Castanea spp., 
Bertholletia evcelsa, Helianthus annuus, Anacardium 
occidentale and Inga spp.), the San Francisco coca leaves 
( 114 ] 
