Which one of the following organs breaks fat to produce cholesterol ?

The liver is the primary organ responsible for the metabolism of fats and the production of cholesterol. While the small intestine is the site for the complete digestion of fats into smaller globules using bile [2], the liver is the central hub for endogenous cholesterol synthesis [t1][t4]. Cholesterol biosynthesis begins with acetyl-CoA, a product of fat and carbohydrate breakdown, and involves nearly 30 enzymatic reactions, with HMG-CoA reductase being the rate-limiting enzyme [t3]. Although the intestines also contribute to cholesterol production [t2][t7], the liver is the major site for regulating cholesterol homeostasis, converting it into bile acids, and secreting it into plasma lipoproteins [t1]. The liver's role in breaking down fats (via bile secretion) and subsequently synthesizing cholesterol from metabolic intermediates makes it the most appropriate answer among the given options.

Sources

1. [1] Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Life Processes > Activity 5.3 > p. 86
2. [2] Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 9: Life Processes in Animals > Small Intestine > p. 125