>What is the factor that elevates >cholesterol then, if it's not dietary
>cholesterol?

some other ideas:
1. lack of dietary cholesterol. without adequate amounts in the diet, all
the cells must synthesize it.  when the cells of the arterial walls do it,
the result is cholesterol where you dotn want it.

2. too little copper. needed to make elastin which strenghtens the arterial
walls. without it the body uses cholesterol as a stop gap.

andrew