Our knowledge of how the body absorbs iron from the diet and how this process is controlled has increased at a rapid rate in recent years. The identification of key molecules, including the iron regulatory peptide hepcidin, and the analysis of how they are regulated and interact have led to the development of an integrated model for the control of iron absorption by body iron requirements. Research now focuses on the role of the liver as the primary regulator of iron absorption, and this review considers some of the recent highlights and controversies in this area.