The invention provides compounds and pharmaceutical compositions that can be used to treat or prevent atherosclerosis, stroke, and other ischemic vascular diseases, dyslipidemia and hypercholestcrolemia and prevent complications of these conditions. Agents in accordance with the invention include; tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), and analogs and derivatives thereof; 4-phenyl butyric acid (PBA), and analogs and derivatives thereof; and trimethyl N-oxide (TMAO), and analogs and derivatives thereof.