San Francisco: Apple chief executive Steve Jobs, who did not turn up to deliver the keynote address at the Mac World Expo 2009 Tuesday for the first time in 11 years, said he stayed away from the event due to ailing health caused by a "hormone imbalance", but added that he would continue in the top job.

In a letter to the 'Apple community' Tuesday, Jobs said his decision to stay away from the annual event had set off a "flurry of rumours about my health, with some even publishing stories of me on my deathbed".

"My doctors think they have found the cause - a hormone imbalance that has been 'robbing' me of the proteins my body needs to be healthy," Jobs, who led the resurgence of Apple Inc from near bankruptcy with innovative products like Macbooks and the revolutionary Ipod range of personal music players (PMPs), said in the letter.

He, however, allayed all rumours about his condition being serious, saying: "Sophisticated blood tests have confirmed this diagnosis, the remedy for this nutritional problem is relatively simple and straightforward, and I've already begun treatment."

Apple insiders believe that an untimely exit by the 53-year-old leader will put the Cupertino-based company in a turmoil.

However, Diptarup Chakraborti, principal research analyst with Gartner, believes Apple Inc has come a long way from the pre-Jobs days and can healthily compete even without him.

"Jobs has inculcated a culture of innovation in the company and the multi-billion dollar entity will continue to grow even if Jobs has to make an early exit," Chakraborti told IANS.

He highlighted the case of Microsoft where the founder Bill Gates stepped down from the post of the chief executive in 2008.

"If and when Jobs has to make an exit he should choose his successor to run the company with his vision," he added.

Jobs tried to assure apple investors about his well being and imminent recovery.

"Just like I didn't lose this much weight and body mass in a week or a month, my doctors expect it will take me until late this Spring to regain it," Jobs said, adding: "I will continue as Apple's CEO during my recovery."

The apple board simultaneously released a statement Tuesday saying Jobs is "one of the most talented and effective CEOs in the world".

"if there ever comes a day when Steve wants to retire or for other reasons cannot continue to fulfil his duties as Apple's CEO, you will know it," the statement added.