Lead author Dr. Feng J. He of St. George's University of London said studies have shown that dietary salt intake increases fluid consumption in adults but this study was the first to examine whether the same was true in children.

The researchers analyzed data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey in Great Britain, conducted in 1997 in a nationally representative sample of more than 2,000 children ages 4-18.

"We found that children eating a lower-salt diet drank less fluid," He said in a statement.

"If children ages 4 to 18 years cut their salt intake by half -- i.e., an average reduction of 3 grams a day -- there would be a decrease of approximately two sugar-sweetened soft drinks per week per child."

Not only would reducing salt intake lower blood pressure in children but it could also play a role in helping to reduce obesity, He said.

The findings are published in the Journal Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association.