Three Weeks After Starting a New Medication for Hyperlipidemia, a 54-Year-Old

Three weeks after starting a new medication for hyperlipidemia, a 54-year-old man comes to the physician because of pain and swelling in his left great toe. Examination shows swelling and erythema over the metatarsophalangeal joint of the toe. Analysis of fluid from the affected joint shows needle-shaped, negatively-birefringent crystals. Which of the following best describes the mechanism of action of the drug he is taking?

A) Promotion of hepatic LDL secretion
B) Inhibition of hepatic HMG-CoA reductase
C) Inhibition of intestinal bile acid absorption
D) Inhibition of hepatic VLDL synthesis
E) Inhibition of intestinal cholesterol absorption