The reducing equivalents for cholesterol biosynthesis are provided by

Cholesterol is a 27-carbon compound consisting of 4 rings and a side chain. It is synthesized from acetyl-CoA by a lengthy pathway that may be divided into five steps:(1) synthesis of mevalonate from acetyl-CoA (2) formation of isoprenoid units from mevalonate by a loss of CO2 (3) condensation of six isoprenoid unitsform squalene (4) cyclization of squalene gives rise to the parent steroid, lanosterol; (5) formation of cholesterol from lanosterol.NADPH provides the reducing equivalents.Ref: Harper&;s Biochemistry; 30th edition; Chapter 26; Cholesterol Synthesis, Transpo, & Excretion