A person’s dietary consumption of cholesterol and fat is one of the mo

A person’s dietary consumption of cholesterol and fat is one of the most important factors determining the level of cholesterol in the person’s blood (serum cholesterol). Serum cholesterol levels rise proportionally to increased cholesterol and fat consumption until that consumption reaches a threshold, but once consumption of these substances exceeds that threshold, serum cholesterol levels rise only gradually, even with dramatic increases in consumption. The threshold is one fourth the consumption level of cholesterol and fat in today’s average North American diet.

The statements above, if true, most strongly support which one of the following?


(A) The threshold can be lowered by lowering the dietary consumption of cholesterol and fat. - WRONG. Reverse proportionality can't be true.

(B) People who consume an average North American diet cannot increase their consumption of cholesterol and fat without dramatically increasing their serum cholesterol levels. - WRONG. What and where these people come from? Who are they? Since nothing is mentioned about people other than NA people then this can't be true either.

(C) People who consume half as much cholesterol and fat as in the average North American diet will not necessarily have half the average serum cholesterol level. - CORRECT. Not necessarily is the keyword. It may or may not be true.

(D) Serum cholesterol levels cannot be affected by nondietary modifications in behavior, such as exercising more or smoking less. - WRONG. Nothing such sort of is indicated. So, can't be said with confirmation.

(E) People who consume less cholesterol and fat than the threshold cannot reduce their serum cholesterol levels. - WRONG. Levels of cholesterol and fat increase proportionally so how does one know that he/she is consuming less than threshold level. How threshold is decided? Hence can't be true.

Answer C.