A patient with high blood cholesterol levels was treated with lovastatin. This drug lowers blood cholesterol levels due primarily to which one of the following?
(A) Inhibition of absorption of dietary cholesterol
(B) Inhibition of lipoprotein lipase in adipose tissue
(C) Inhibition of citrate lyase in the liver
(D) Induction of LDL receptors in the liver and peripheral tissues
(E) Inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase in the liver and peripheral tissues