Pharmaceutical compositions are provided that are useful in treating hypercholesterolemia. The compositions comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and an effective therapeutic or prophylactic amount of a nitroxide antioxidant that alters the expression of one or more genes related to hypercholesterolemia. Methods are also provided for the use of the pharmaceutical compositions in the treatment or prevention of hypercholesterolemia. In a preferred embodiment, the nitroxide antioxidant is Tempol (4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl).