Steve Jobs has responded to recent speculation about the state of his health, stating that his rapid weight loss was caused by a "hormone imbalance".
But in a letter to the "Apple community" the 53-year-old co-founder of the pioneering computer firm denied rumors that he was on his deathbed.
According to Jobs, his weight loss remained a mystery to him and his doctors until a few weeks ago, when further testing indicated that he was suffering from a hormone imbalance that had been preventing the body from absorbing much-needed proteins.
Fortunately, Jobs continued, the disorder is a "relatively simple and straightforward"&brkbar; nutritional problem".
Jobs contracted pancreatic cancer in 2004, and underwent surgery to remove a tumor. The pancreas produces amylase and protease, substances which help the body break down starch into sugar and break down proteins for digestion.
It is common for pancreatic cancer survivors to take supplementary pancreatic enzymes to aid digestion.