Provide an example of a cholesterol absorption inhibitor.

Ezetimibe is recognized as a cholesterol absorption inhibitor and works by selectively blocking the intestinal absorption of cholesterol. This mechanism is particularly beneficial for reducing the amount of cholesterol that enters the bloodstream from the diet. By inhibiting the Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 (NPC1L1) protein in the intestinal mucosa, ezetimibe decreases overall cholesterol levels, helping to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.

In contrast, pravastatin belongs to the statin class of medications, which primarily work by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme involved in the cholesterol synthesis pathway in the liver. Fenofibrate is a fibric acid derivative that primarily lowers triglycerides and can modestly increase HDL cholesterol but does not focus on inhibiting cholesterol absorption from the intestine. Niacin, or vitamin B3, can reduce LDL cholesterol and triglycerides while raising HDL cholesterol but operates through a different mechanism involving lipid metabolism rather than absorption inhibition. Consequently, the unique action of ezetimibe distinctly classifies it as a cholesterol absorption inhibitor among the provided options.