Which chelating ligand is effective in removing excess copper and iron from the body?

D-penicillamine is a highly effective chelating ligand used in clinical practice for the removal of excess copper and iron from the body. It works by forming stable complexes with these metal ions, allowing them to be excreted from the body more readily. This is particularly important in conditions such as Wilson's disease, where excessive copper accumulation occurs, and in hemochromatosis, where iron overload is a concern.

D-penicillamine has specific binding properties that make it suitable for copper chelation, and it has been proven effective for this purpose in numerous clinical studies. Its ability to not only bind to copper but also to iron thus demonstrates its dual action in managing metal overload.

While other chelators exist, their efficacy or specificity for copper and iron differs significantly. For instance, EDTA primarily chelates lead and does not effectively remove copper. Acetylcysteine is an antioxidant and is not primarily a chelator for metals. Lastly, citric acid can chelate some metals but is not utilized clinically for treating metal overload as effectively as D-penicillamine. Hence, the choice of D-penicillamine reflects its established role in treating conditions linked to copper and iron excess in the